Just Add Buttermilk: The Art of Becoming Your Best Self

The Art of Becoming Your Best Self

Buttermilk. 

It’s like adding lemon juice to milk and having a gulp of it. 

Boy, as a kid, I once thought it sounded soooo0000 good and tasty. I wanted to try it. Well, I did and it was the first and last time I drank that stuff. Yuck! Of course, I bet it takes great if you won the Indy 500!

Straight buttermilk, no chaser!

Now, in all fairness, I’ve learned that I most likely was not even drinking true buttermilk. I was drinking the knock-off, store-bought version which is skim milk and cultures added to it.  So, I’ve only drunk commercial buttermilk. 

True buttermilk is made from real butter. It’s the liquid (whey) that forms from the churning of the butter. But, I’m sure you already knew that…

It is actually a very popular drink in Southeast Asia. Man, those people are mentally tough for drinking that stuff, because I bet fraternities most likely make their pledges consume copious amounts of it.

Heck, even with all the supposed benefits of straight buttermilk, I’m still not rushing out to down it. Now, before you read further, this blog is NOT about drinking buttermilk to build mental toughness, although if you do, let me know. It can’t hurt. 

So, what could buttermilk possibly have with becoming your best self?

Buttermilk is the magic ingredient. 

Buttermilk is what it is by itself, but when it’s mixed with something else, it frankly makes that dish, the best ever! 

Seriously, what is better than Buttermilk Biscuits and Buttermilk Pancakes and Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Buttermilk Ice-Cream, or Buttermilk ranch dressing, awesome! 

That’s how the art of being your best self occurs!  

By ourselves, in isolation, we make little impact. However, only when we share our own magic with others are we becoming the best version of ourselves. 

We need to just add the buttermilk. 

Talents and Gifts. 

According to the dictionary, a talent is a natural endowment of a person. 

Some of us have abilities that can be seen: cutting hair, detailing cars, landscaping, taking pictures, drawing, playing the piano, or singing. Then there are talents like running, jumping, throwing, comedy, or hitting a golf ball.  

A gift is also a talent, but it is something given willingly without payment. 

The biggest difference between talents and gifts is how they are used.

Talents that are used for the betterment of others become gifts. 

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If you look up Quora, there are 95 current answers to “what is the greatest gift one person can give to another.” Seems most people are searching for actionable ways of becoming your best self. 

Many of these answers are love, kindness, time, patience, positivity, compassion, kindness, discernment, and respect. 

When we delve into spirituality, the Bible outlines specific spiritual gifts that include: Leadership, administration, teaching, knowledge, wisdom, prophecy, discernment, and exhortation. 

Everyone has a gift, but some do not utilize it and most do not maximize it. 

If we keep our talent only for ourselves, (which happens easily) then it restricts becoming your best self. Buttermilk by itself is not the best, only when used with others. The secret is that we have to give it away. We have to focus on making others better by using our own talents and turning them into gifts. 

When we focus on others and are of service; we make a difference. 

Focusing on others is by design it is not by default. 

Our default mode is to isolate.

Okay, maybe not you, but I sure do. Only when I’m full of confidence, productive, and have exercised do I feel like connecting with others. It’s a lot easier to NOT have to connect with people than it is to build relationships.  

We can be comfortable and happy alone. We do not need to connect. But when we isolate, we lose confidence and we lose confidence when we isolate. Only mushrooms grow in the dark and who likes those? 

And in today’s world, sadly, it’s easy to isolate. It’s about becoming your best self without others.

When we use are using our gift, we are truly alive!

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. DRB & associates coach executives and professional athletes. Some clients have included three different winners on the PGA Tour, Indy Eleven, University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens.