I always want to give my best and do the best I can. I know when

“I always want to give my best and do the best I can. I know when I have sung my best and when I haven’t. There can be stresses and hassles with time travel and press attention. I just have to adapt and find a way of dealing with it.” Thus spoke Katherine Jenkins, the voice of song and spirit, whose life has been shaped by music, duty, and the demands of the world. In her words shines a truth that transcends the stage: that to live nobly is not to live without trial, but to meet every challenge with the resolve to give one’s best and to endure with grace.

When Jenkins says, “I know when I have sung my best and when I haven’t,” she confesses what every soul must recognize: that the truest judge is not the crowd, nor the critic, but the conscience within. Applause may thunder, praise may be written in glowing words, yet the heart knows when it has held nothing back and when it has faltered. This inner standard is the mark of excellence. It is not perfection demanded by others, but the quiet voice of integrity that whispers: You have done all you could. To live by that measure is to live in truth.

Her words also reveal the weight of burdens unseen. She speaks of the stresses and hassles of travel, of the glare of press attention, of the countless distractions that accompany a life in the public eye. These are the storms that buffet the soul of any who dare to step into the light of renown. Yet Jenkins teaches that greatness is not found in escaping such storms, but in learning to adapt, to bend without breaking, to carry on with purpose even when the path is troubled. This is a lesson for all, not only for the artist: life will always bring disorder, but the wise learn to transform hindrance into discipline, and chaos into calm.

History bears witness to this principle. Consider Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome, whose Meditations were written not in ease but in the midst of war and ceaseless responsibility. Surrounded by pressure, he taught himself to master his own thoughts, to adapt to the tumult of command, and to remain steady in virtue. Or think of Florence Nightingale, who faced the filth and despair of the Crimean War. She could not banish suffering from the world, but she adapted, endured, and through her persistence brought healing to thousands. Both, like Jenkins, show us that the noblest strength is not the absence of difficulty, but the power to persevere in spite of it.

The heart of Jenkins’ wisdom lies in the union of excellence and resilience. To give your best is the highest offering, and to adapt when life resists you is the shield that protects your offering from despair. Without excellence, effort is wasted; without resilience, effort is abandoned. But together, they form the twin pillars of a life well-lived, whether in music, in labor, in leadership, or in love.

The lesson for us is clear: do not measure yourself by the applause of others, but by the truth of your own conscience. Strive always to give your best—whether the world notices or not—and when obstacles come, meet them not with complaint but with adaptation. Learn new ways, bend when you must, stand firm when you can, and carry forward with resolve. The path of excellence is not smooth, but it is glorious, for it forges the soul into something unshakable.

Practical actions flow easily from her words. When stress overwhelms you, do not abandon your task—pause, breathe, and seek a new way forward. When failure comes, do not hide from it—acknowledge it, learn from it, and return stronger. And when success arrives, do not rest only in the praise of others—ask yourself instead: Did I truly give my best? If so, then stand proud, for nothing greater can be asked of any person.

Thus let Jenkins’ words become a guiding principle for your own life: give your best, adapt to adversity, and hold fast to integrity. For in doing so, you will find peace in your labor, strength in your trials, and honor in your days. And when you look back upon your journey, you will know that even through stress and struggle, you gave the finest offering you could give: the fullness of yourself.