Maya Angelou, a celebrated writer and poet, is known for her inspiring quotes. One such quote is “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” This statement has become a mantra to many of her fans. In this article, we’ll explore when Maya Angelou said this and what it means.
The words “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better” first appeared in Angelou’s essay titled “Rise”. The essay was published in O magazine in April 2008. Despite the essay having been published over 10 years ago, Angelou’s words still remain relevant today.
Angelou’s quote encourages us to constantly do our best and strive for improvement in all aspects of life. She implies that we should not be content with our current level of knowledge, but instead strive to continuously become more knowledgeable and experienced. She also stresses the importance of taking responsibility for our mistakes and learning from them. In other words, if we make a mistake and we understand why it happened, then we should strive to do better in the future.
This message of striving for improvement resonates with many people, regardless of their background. Whether we are students, employees, parents, or entrepreneurs, we can draw on the wisdom of Angelou’s words to try our best and “do better”. By constantly challenging ourselves and building on our knowledge, we can become more successful.
It’s important to remember that Angelou’s quote isn’t about perfectionism. Instead, it’s about embracing our flaws and mistakes, and learning from them. We should be willing to take risks, make mistakes, and accept responsibility for our actions. The quote is about embracing our imperfections, push ourselves out of our comfort zone, and strive for improvement. By following Angelou’s advice, we can become better versions of ourselves.
More On The Topic
The words of Maya Angelou are powerful, but translating them into everyday life can be challenging. For one, being honest with oneself and pushing past one’s boundaries requires a great amount of courage and determination. This can be difficult to do, especially when life becomes complicated. Additionally, while striving to do one’s best is important, it’s also important to not get overwhelmed and overwhelmed by expectations.
To make sure one doesn’t overexert themselves, it can be helpful to set achievable goals. For example, if someone is trying to learn a new skill, it’s a good idea to give them achievable milestones to work towards. This helps both hold oneself accountable, and also prevent burnout. Additionally, enlisting the support of a friend or mentor can help keep one motivated and on track.
It’s also important to recognize that “doing the best one can” doesn’t always mean working as hard as one possibly can. It’s important to recognize when one is getting exhausted and overwhelmed and to take breaks when needed. Self-care is an essential part of “doing one’s best” and must not be neglected. This includes things such as taking time off to relax, making time for fun activities, and spending time with loved ones.
Overall, Maya Angelou’s quote can help serve as a reminder to stay humble and strive to continuously learn and improve. It is a reminder that no one is perfect and that mistakes can be used as opportunities to do better. By understanding and following her wisdom, we can develop the courage to challenge ourselves and embrace the joys and imperfections of life.
Key Points To Remember
Maya Angelou first spoke about “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better” in her 2008 essay “Rise”. Her words can be used as a reminder to strive for improvement without getting caught up in expectations, to set achievable goals, and to not forget to take care of oneself. Although this advice may be difficult to put into practice, it is wise and should be remembered.
Real-World Examples
As previously stated, translating Angelou’s words into everyday life can be challenging. To make things easier, one can look to examples of people who have already done this. For example, Oprah Winfrey has often cited Angelou’s quote, and it is arguably this quote which has propelled her success. Winfrey has often described how, when she was younger, she strived to “do the best she could” and was relentless in her efforts to learn and improve.
Another example of how Angelou’s words have been put into practice can be seen in the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant. Bryant was adamant about always “improving his best”, and pushed himself to the limits in order to achieve success and be the best. He was famous for his work ethic and dedication, and was seemingly always striving to learn and do better. Both Winfrey and Bryant are real-world examples of how Angelou’s advice is both realistic and achievable.
Ways To Implement
When attempting to implement Angelou’s advice into one’s own life, it is important to keep in mind taking time to self-evaluate. This can involve asking oneself difficult questions, such as “Where can I do better?” Doing this can give one a clearer picture of where they are currently, in addition to showing them where they would like to improve.
Another way of putting Angelou’s advice into practice is to focus on having progress and dedication, rather than perfection. This can involve creating a checklist or goals that are achievable in the short-term. This helps prevent getting overwhelmed by expectations and builds confidence with each milestone achieved.
Additionally, sharing one’s journey with others can also help hold oneself accountable and prevent getting discouraged. One can get a mentor, start a blog or YouTube channel, or join support groups. Seeing others in similar situations and watching them succeed can provide a great boost in motivation.
The Importance Of Having A Positive Attitude
Finally, it’s important to remember that “doing the best one can” isn’t just a physical journey, it’s also mental. Having a positive attitude and being kind to oneself are essential to not getting overwhelmed and burned out. Through positive thinking and understanding that mistakes are learning opportunities, one can create an empowering mindset which propels one forward.
Moreover, having an encouraging support system is equally important. Whether it’s family or friends, having people who one can turn to for guidance or help can be invaluable.
In conclusion, Maya Angelou’s quote “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better” is an inspiring reminder to strive for improvement and never give up. Learning from our mistakes and taking responsibility for our actions can help us grow and become our best selves.
