Raise Your Standards
I want people to enjoy their lives more. One of the things that anyone can do is raise their standards. People often accept what they have or what they believe they can. have instead of what they deserve. You deserve to live a quality life. This is not only good for you but for society.
When you raise your standards, you not only improve your life, but you also improve the lives of others. We want to live in a better world. What does this mean? We want our neighborhood to look better. We want people to be happier. We want people to drive nicer cars. We want people to eat better food. We want people to be clean. We want people to be more energy efficient.
You Are Other People’s World
For other people, you are that outside world. Raising your standards allows companies and people to do a better job rather than sell themselves short for the cheapest option. Is it better to have more mechanics or better cars that need less maintenance, and then pay the mechanics for doing higher-quality work only when it is necessary? Is it better to be fixing your house all the time, or get it right the first time? Wouldn’t you prefer to do a higher-quality job or a lower-quality one? Wouldn’t you like a higher-quality workplace?
Life is Not About Not Dying
And besides, don’t you want to have a higher quality of life? You deserve it. I feel like many people live not to die. As long as they're not dead, they feel like they're doing okay. They sell for way less than they deserve. They get a car that drives and is functional, but is boring and without much flair. They live in a substandard home. They have furniture that’s not great. They have mismatched dishes. As a side note, mismatched dishes can look stylish if done intentionally, so if that’s your style, go for it.
You Can Have a Better Life
Many people think that they cannot raise their standards because they don’t have enough money or resources. Or maybe even that they don’t deserve it. Is it possible to increase your standards and have a more enjoyable life?
A smartphone is something that improves your life. It is worth the money. I have a robotic lawnmower. It’s cheaper than a landscape and keeps my lawn in excellent condition for a fraction of the cost, and I don’t have to deal with managing people or paying landscaping bills.
How Do You Raise Your Standards?
First, accept that life is more than just not dying. Look around and ask, “How can my life be better? What would I like to see improve? How can I be better?” Marie Kondo has a saying that you should have things and do things in your life that “spark joy.” Touch the objects in your house. Do you get a “spark” of joy looking at them? Touching them? Do you get excited by the quality of the job you did?
People often think there is a “price to pay” for improving standards, but that is simply a negative belief. I know many wealthy and successful people, and they tend to do less and have a higher quality of life. Higher standards make your life easier. When people think of higher standards, they think “I can’t afford it, “ or “I don’t have the time or energy,” for that. This is a foundational belief that will set you back. Instead, ask yourself, “How can I have what I want and have it be easier, more fun, and easily affordable? “
Another key point in raising your standards is learning how to have more. Most people are accustomed to their current circumstances and do not know how to achieve more and become more. It’s new. You have to learn, just like learning anything new. At first, it might seem impossible. But later, it’s not so bad.
Allow Yourself To Want
One of the key ways is a two-part process. First accept that you want more or want to do better, while also accepting a second point, that just because you don’t know how to get it, have it, or do it, that it’s not impossible. Allow yourself to want without insisting upon having it at this moment. And then focus on doing what you can do now. You can say, “I want a nicer car, and I want it to come easily.” Be comfortable with that without knowing how or when.
Brainstorm and Think
Brainstorm ways to achieve your goals while also enjoying yourself and making it a fun and easy experience. One way is to say, “What are the positives of having things the way that I want? What beliefs support me?” For example, if I had the thing I wanted, I would save money, be able to do a better job, and have more time.
I was recently trying to sell a nice wardrobe that we had on Facebook Marketplace, and I was surprised by how many other nice armoirs were out there, including many free ones. So when I hear people complain about not having furniture, I can say confidently that there were tons of lovely pieces out there. You may have to look in a more prosperous town. But I could definitely see that’s one way to improve.
Be Nice
Be nice while you’re at it. Some people assume that to get more, they have to pressure others. A boss may feel that they need to push their employees harder to do a better job, or a tenant may feel they have to nag a landlord for improvements. That’s generally not the best way and will make everyone stressed and strain relationships. Find easier and more pleasant ways, unless, of course, you enjoy the tough approach.
I had the opportunity to work at Harvard under a visionary. The department that I was in dramatically improved, and so did the standards. Simply by setting the intention for wanting higher standards and doing what you can can be huge. The visionary was clear about the fact that he wanted to do better, and by doing his best himself, we were all inspired to match him. Regardless of our pay, we wanted to do better. We wanted to be a part of something better. We all wanted to be proud of our work.
In short, a three-part formula for raising your standards is this:
Insist upon more. Be clear about what you want.
Accept what you have and allow ideas, times, people, and the universe to deliver.
Do what you can.
