Shadowing Practice: You're doing your best, and I'll prove it. - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
If someone were to ask me, how do I know if I'm doing my best?
2
My answer would be that definitively, You always are.
3
I think a lot of the confusion that we face when asking ourselves this question
4
stems from how we define the phrase your best.
5
Most people think of doing your best as achieving the ideal outcome or making the objectively right decision.
6
But your best is not really an objective standard.
7
It's subjective because it's dependent on your current capabilities.
8
Like for example, I watch a lot of UFC.
9
Right.
10
And if the objective was to submit a UFC fighter and the two people competing to do that,
11
to complete this objective, were me and say somebody like Joe Rogan, who isn't a UFC fighter,
12
but he possesses a lot of skill and technique and has decades of experience in mixed martial arts under his belt,
13
he would have a much higher likelihood of completing that task or completing that objective.
14
But it doesn't necessarily mean that one of us is trying harder or less than the other.
15
It just means that his current capabilities within that scenario are more than mine.
16
Right.
17
So we could both be giving our best at this.
18
but we would produce different results.
19
simply because our capabilities are different.
20
And the same principle applies to every area of life.
21
Take addiction as an example.
22
The addict hopefully logically knows that sobriety is a better...
23
path for them, but they continue using and many people will interpret this as
24
the person's just not trying hard enough or they're just not doing their best.
25
But I see it differently.
26
The decision a person makes is always influenced by several factors.
27
And this could include things like beliefs, perspectives, resources, energy levels, past experiences,
28
current circumstances, etc. If someone carries a deep belief that they are simply not strong enough to choose the path of sobriety.
29
then that becomes a limiting factor.
30
even though intellectually they understand that sobriety is the better choice,
31
they might not yet align with that decision internally.
32
Right.
33
So in that moment, continuing to use may be the decision that they most align with.
34
Not because it's the right decision, but because it's the decision that their current beliefs,
35
perspectives, and current capabilities allow them to make.
36
So in essence, this is why I believe that we are always doing our best at all times.
37
And it's really indisputable because your best does not require you to always make the right decision.
38
your best just requires you to make the decision that your identity, your current belief systems and perspectives, etc, allow you to make.
39
And you may say like, well, what What about when somebody makes a bold,
40
brass decision that is seems to be out of character for them.
41
Maybe their life has been going in a certain trajectory and then they make an unexpected decision, an unexpected shift and choose a different path.
42
Is that them all of a sudden making a decision or a change
43
that in that moment was out of their sort of scope.
44
And the answer to that question is, Even when somebody does something like that.
45
They pivot unexpectedly, or they shift the tides, you know what I mean?
46
Like you have those sort of Pivotable moments in your life.
47
It is still the case that they are making the decision that most aligns with them,
48
given these several factors that determine what decision we ultimately make.
49
It may just so happen that they were influenced by some, someone or something, or they watched a certain movie, or they're around a certain person,
50
and they heard a certain perspective or some way, somehow, maybe they read a book and they, you know, a certain paragraph or phrase and it just really,
51
started to mold a different perspective within them, then a different possibility opens up.
52
And they might not even consciously know that.
53
But that is ultimately what leads somebody to make a pivotable sort of change in direction.
54
So to put it simply, the choice that that person makes changes because the person themselves have changed to some degree.
55
If you're sort of connecting the dots here, you'll start to understand that the real question that you should be asking is not
56
How do I know if I'm doing my best?
57
The more useful question would be something like, What factors are currently determining
58
What choices
59
i'm capable of aligning with because if your decisions
60
are ultimately determined by factors such as your beliefs your perspectives your emotional state and your capabilities
61
then real change comes from working on those factors.
62
So yes, an addict may not yet be capable of aligning with complete sobriety.
63
However, they may be capable of doing something like reading a book about somebody's story
64
pursuing the path of sobriety or going to a meeting, or just talking to a friend, perhaps who is a recovering addict, just to get a different perspective,
65
you know, and start challenging their own beliefs, and start shifting perspectives in a way that may
66
work better in their favor because it is these shifts at a fundamental level
67
and by the way an addict can be anything You know, just relate that to your own life in whatever way makes sense.
68
Maybe you're an addict to your phone.
69
Maybe you're an addict to your bed.
70
Maybe you're an addict to a substance.
71
Maybe you're an addict to video games.
72
Maybe you're an addict to just being comfortable with where you're at, even though you know you want to go forward in life and progress and do great things,
73
whatever that may mean for you, how you sort of.
74
give yourself the opportunity to make a decision to actually put in a different input
75
so that you can get a different output is by by simply working at these determining factors.
76
that exists at a very fundamental level, which will then set you up
77
for a better opportunity to then become the person who is capable of putting in a different input.
78
So it's important to really understand that when I say that you are always doing your best,
79
What I don't mean is that you're always reaching your potential.
80
I simply mean that you are acting... And...
81
Total Accordance to who you are in the moment.
82
So the question you need to ask yourself, if you want to get better results, if you want to start living a different life, and going down a better path is how can I mold?
83
How can I shift?
84
How can I change these factors that end up determining the decisions that I make, and that ultimately determine how I view myself,
85
my capabilities, and the life that I live.
86
And for what I'm about to say, if you don't take anything else from this video, Take this, like just just lock in for this next like 15 seconds.
87
I even have it written down here because it's so important.
88
Growth is the process.
89
of improving these independent factors that ultimately make up the decisions that you make so that
90
The decisions required to achieve your goals become the decisions you naturally align with.
91
Again, growth is the process of improving the independent factors
92
that determine the decisions that you make
93
Until the decisions required to achieve your goals become the decisions you naturally align with boy
94
Did I wish somebody preached this to me?
95
If you fail to make this distinction between understanding what the right choice is and what your best choices Um,
96
you will continue to live in perpetual internal agony and torture because you will always be comparing what you know,
97
like logically or objectively you should have done.
98
But instead, you made this decision instead, or instead, you were this productive instead of that productive, or you got this outcome instead of that outcome.
99
Um, You're not perfect newsflash.
100
Okay, and so the decision that you make your best is is not always going to be the objectively right decision.
101
It's a work in progress.
102
And so if you can simply make the distinction between okay, I actually did my best and I'm confident in that we will work on you know,
103
these individual factors so that we can slowly improve as a person and increase our capabilities that we can grow closer,
104
to what the objectively best outcome is in this scenario,
105
in whatever we're pursuing, then you can stop torturing yourself and comparing yourself like Because even if you did a good job,
106
right, even if you did impress yourself, there will always be that thought, if you fail to make this distinction, Maybe I could have done better.
107
And now you're in a rat race.
108
Now you're just a hamster on a wheel.
109
And that's no way to live.
110
So I wanted to make this video because This is something that I struggle with for a long time and still do.
111
Sometimes I'm human myself.
112
Surprise, surprise.
113
Again, I have this written down to most people evaluate themselves against what they believe they should have done.
114
They compare their actions to the objectively ideal response, the perfect decision, or the person they wish they were.
115
But if your current capabilities do not yet allow you to align with that choice, then you are judging yourself against something that was never available to you in that moment.
116
Look, tell me I'm not.
117
Tell me I'm not a poet.
118
Okay, tell me I'm not... And absolutely.
119
All right, let me stop.
120
Let me stop.
121
But seriously, though, like, you know, break out the notepad and paper because I'm spitting right now.
122
And I'm also sweating so bad, but I have to have my fan off or else you guys will hear it.
123
Yeah, so...
124
As a result, no matter what you do, You'll never be happy.
125
and Boy, that's torture.
126
So stop asking yourself why you weren't already capable of making the perfect choice.
127
you need to start asking yourself, What exactly would need to change for that choice?
128
to become available to me.
129
Anyways...
130
I could go on and on and on about this topic.
131
um, but it's getting late and...
132
I think that's enough Food for thought.
133
Or what do they say?
134
Don't know brain food or something I love you guys.
135
I appreciate your time.
136
And I will see you soon.
📺 Same Channel
✨ Recommend Video
B21
58 sentences
𝟑 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
35 sentences
How to Become the Best at What You Do
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
63 sentences
Choose Your Life: The Secret to Living Your Truth & Finding Meaning
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B289 sentences
If I Wanted to Outwork My Excuses, I'd Work 28 Hours a Week
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B29
14 sentences
How to Believe in Yourself
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
315 sentences
I’ve failed so I come back stronger
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
52 sentences
You can give up right now if you want, that's totally fine!
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
28 sentences
Master What You Can Control
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B2136 sentences
Are you making yourself miserable?
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B21
233 sentences
Atomic Habits in 13 Min
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
385 sentences
Give me 20 minutes to make you dangerously mentally strong (so you can achieve your goals)
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
About This Lesson
In this lesson, you will practice your English speaking skills by exploring the concept of doing your best in various situations. The focus will be on understanding subjective experiences and the factors that influence our decision-making processes. Through this lesson, you will enhance your ability to express complex thoughts and engage in discussions about personal growth, motivation, and self-reflection. This is an opportunity to develop your speaking fluency while using the shadowing technique to mimic the natural rhythms and expressions of a native speaker.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Your best: A subjective measure of one's effort and capabilities.
- Capabilities: The abilities or skills someone possesses in a given situation.
- Limiting factor: A condition that restricts progress or influence in decision-making.
- Perspectives: The way in which someone views a situation or issue.
- Alignment: The state of being in agreement or accord with one’s beliefs and decisions.
- Pivotable moments: Significant changes in direction or choices in life circumstances.
- Internal alignment: The harmony between one’s beliefs and the decisions made.
Practice Tips
To effectively practice your English speaking skills through the shadowing technique, pay close attention to the speed and tone of the video. Here are some tips to enhance your practice:
- Listen actively: Hear the nuances in the speaker's voice, especially the pauses and emotional emphasis.
- Repeat phrases: After listening to a segment, pause the video and repeat sentences as closely as possible to how they were said. This will help you improve both pronunciation and intonation.
- Use a shadowing app: To assist your practice, consider utilizing a shadowing app that allows for immediate audio feedback, helping you align with correct pronunciations.
- Slow it down: If the pace is too fast, use playback options to slow down the video. This makes it easier to catch every word and phrase for your shadow speak practice.
- Engage with the content: Reflect on the themes discussed in the video. Consider how personal experiences and beliefs shape your own choices, and try to express these thoughts in your practice sessions.
- Record and compare: Record your shadow speech and compare it to the original audio. This will help you identify areas for improvement and track your progress over time.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | if you did impress yourself, there will always |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is always influenced · were influenced · are ultimately determined |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | level, which will · person who is |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.