It’s a soul thing. A life lived awake

The name Stradivarius is synonymous with excellence. Antonius Stradivarius refused to release a violin from his workshop until it was as close to perfection as skill and human care could make it. His philosophy was summed up in a single line: “Other men will make other violins, but no man shall make a better one.”

But is excellence reserved only for geniuses like Stradivarius? Excellence is not a function of genius, or even talent. It is about faithfulness to what we have been given, and the refusal to casually treat our own potential. The question is not whether we can be Stradivarius, but whether we are willing to become our fully excellent selves.

To understand excellence more deeply, we need to look beneath the surface.

✨3 Ideas

1. What Is Excellence?

Excellence is native to the soul -- a longing, a desire, a drive embedded in our spiritual essence. Settling for mediocrity is counter to our inner nature.

Deep down, we want our lives to matter, to leave a trace of light where we pass.

Excellence is often confused with success. Success measures how we compare to others; excellence measures how faithfully we develop what we were given. In this light, the desire for excellence lives within us, long before becoming externally visible.

2. The Obstacle To Excellence

The greatest impediment to excellence is rarely failure, but what we believe about ourselves. When people believe they have potential, they rise to meet it; when they doubt themselves, invisible ceilings take shape.

We tell ourselves stories. “I’m not so creative,” “I don’t have a head for numbers,” “I’m not likable,” “Excellence isn’t for people like me.”

These beliefs become self-fulfilling prophecies. The truth is, we don’t fall short because we lack ability, but because we underestimate the greatness of our own souls.

3. Actualizing Your Excellence

Excellence begins when we realign how we see ourselves. People are created equal, but fulfillment is always personal. When we release the belief that our soul is ordinary, we awaken to the recognition that mediocrity contradicts our spiritual essence.

Once that inner shift takes root, a practical path forward becomes clear. We begin by finding what truly stirs us -- that intersection of curiosity, delight, and purpose.

Joyfully, we build daily habits that create the extraordinary. Excellence is a journey, shaped one faithful step at a time, guided by the soul.

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📜2 Quotes

“If you are not a better person tomorrow than you are today, what need have you for a tomorrow?”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov

“Bob Gibson is the luckiest pitcher I ever saw. He always pitches when the other team doesn’t score any runs.”
— Tim McCarver, Gibson’s catcher, said with a wink.

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❓1 Question

Where in your life might you feel invited to become more fully yourself?

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Excellence doesn’t ask us to become someone else. Nor is it result-dependent or defined by success. It asks us to become more fully who we already are, with faithfulness, intention, and care.

Until next time,
Wishing you a week of bringing more of who you are into the world,

Rabbi Ze’ev Smason

P.S. What’s one small habit or choice where you’d like to act with greater faithfulness to who you are? I’d love to hear.

P.P.S. If today’s message resonated, feel free to share it with someone who might appreciate the reminder.