What does it mean to become unrecognizable? Merriam-Webster says unrecognizable means “incapable of being recognized”. Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “very different from before, or changed very much, and therefore not able to be recognized”. Using these definitions, we can see how you can become unrecognizable even if your physical appearance doesn’t change. Changes to your confidence or working on mental or emotional changes can also make you unrecognizable.
Why become unrecognizable?
Who wants to just be normal? How can you grow and become a better version of yourself if you keep doing the same thing day in and day out?
I don’t think anyone dreams of being average.
Our bodies and minds are masters of adapting and giving just enough effort to do the same thing as yesterday and the day before. If you work an 8 hour shift moving around all day, you’re most likely feeling fatigued at the end of your shift. If you had to work a 9 hour shift one day? That extra 1 hour could feel like an entire extra shift. If you worked many 9 hour shifts in a row, your body would adapt, and you would not feel as tired after each shift.
Add in our commitments after work and societal expectations and it’s not hard to see how simply carrying the status quo becomes so comfortable. And comfortable is good.
It is easier, and less painful, to say we can’t do better than to try and do better but fail.
How do you become unrecognizable? The first step is to choose to make the journey. It won’t be easy, so whatever you decide to work on needs to be very important to you.
- Identify areas you want to improve
- Set measurable goals
- Make short term and long term goals. Easy wins provide motivation to keep going.
- Decide how you will track your progress.
- Even if the tracking method is not 100% accurate, if you measure your progress the same way each and every time you will still be able to see whether you’re moving in your preferred direction.
- Don’t be afraid to fail and pivot or adjust.
Rome wasn’t built in a day. and you won’t become unrecognizable overnight. Stick with it. Show the new version of you some compassion. If you miss a goal, that doesn’t mean you failed. It just means you need to tweak the process to hit your next goal.