Everyone is a genius, but, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid!
In all my years of experience working with individuals, the single most important thing in creating success was when an individual strength—that thing which is unique to each one of us—was brought to life. Of course, there are other things to address and consider when embarking on this journey. I found that most of them are linked in some way to this one facet.
For some people, it is easy to know their particular talent. As a child they knew what they loved; their passion was clear. Every chance they got, they were either out playing their favorite sport, drawing, writing, baking on their EZ-Bake Oven, dressing their dolls and making up fashions, doing puzzles, or playing guitar. Although all of us displayed passion and imagination in whatever we had the most fun with as kids, some people did not stop. They continued on their path, becoming great at what they loved the most.
For the majority of us, this passion became buried deep inside as we got older.
I am on the top of that list. We embarked on the journeys that we believed were the best choices because that is how we were told it should be. We were told that we were not kids anymore. It was time to start thinking about reality and get serious if we wanted a good life. We received these messages in many different ways from our parents, teachers, friends, colleagues and bosses. Before we knew it, we felt shame in having a passion that had been labeled as bad. Before being able to move forward, we need to have a clear awareness of our emotions, our behaviors, and who we are.
You Are Where You Are For a Reason
If you have a dream, a goal buried inside, it is not too late to pursue it. What you need to believe is that all the things you have done, and all your experiences up to the present day, have only made you stronger in pursuing your goal. Some day the dots will connect. Everything you have learned, whether it is from technical courses, the people you have encountered, your present job, or being a parent, is a part of your knowledge base.
You will NEVER lose that knowledge. It gives you all the information you need to take that first step toward change.
As you take that step, even though you might not see it now, you will find yourself dipping into some of those skills and the knowledge you have acquired from your life experience. You will be able to connect the dots.
Do You Dread Waking Up in the Morning to Start Your Day?
If your answer to this question is YES, try doing the following exercise:
Take a piece of paper and write down what you would be doing for a single day if the answer to that question was NO. Try to be very detailed, from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep. Where would you be? Who would be with you? What would you be doing? What would you be feeling?
Planning Your Perfect Day
When I first asked myself this question, the process of answering gave me a clear picture of my short-term and long-term goals.
I envisioned what my perfect day would be like.
The process also let me discover my hidden strength. It also let me see exactly where I placed my focus and how much time I was spending doing things that were keeping me from that perfect day. I wanted to keep learning about other cultures. I have always wanted to speak Spanish. I loved being around people. I wanted to be a better role model for my nieces and nephews, I wanted to contribute to making a difference to others by mentoring them, and I wanted to write a book. Sounds like a lot, right?
It is incredible; once you describe your perfect day and have a clear picture of your goal, you will find yourself achieving it much faster than you think.
So I decided to let go of everything and quit my job. Within five months, I was living in Buenos Aires and launching my website. I was adapting to a new culture and signing up for Spanish courses. Three months later, I was speaking Spanish (one of my dreams for years). Today, I have launched my personal coaching program and am writing this eBook. Yes, I came across a few hurdles, but
never underestimate just how much you can accomplish, and in less time than you think.
There is a lot of planning involved; however, when you are planning for that perfect day, you realize just how much you are able to do in a single day. You will also realize just how much time you spend on the things that keep you away from your perfect day!
Is there something you’re thinking about that you’d be doing right now, that you’ve never done that gives you a devilish laugh to yourself? That’s probably your hidden strength and passion. If you focus on your strength and give your attention to creating your perfect day, you will begin to see yourself slowly living it!
Taking the first step is the hardest. Remember to focus on your strengths and pursue your passion.
This article is taken from “Stop Hiding and Discover Yourself”, a book I wrote to guide you in breaking free from your emotional barriers and start following your passion. If you want to learn more, check it out and get your kindle version of “Stop Hiding and Discover Yourself! Secrets to Strengthen Your Personal Value” on Amazon.
