I’m not sure this is how I would want to be described. There’s nothing wrong with being born with natural talents and skill, but it can be a downfall if we choose to lean on it instead of putting in the work.

And it certainly doesn’t have to be one or the other. We can be blessed by being proficient in something and in addition be a person who has the drive and work ethic to continue to develop those skills in order to see how far we can go.

But often, we can find ourselves staying comfortable with where we are rather than pushing into the unknown. Another words, going soft.

There’s nothing wrong with that, just as long as we know where we stand and what we’re doing. Don’t be mistaken that your success has come from your tenacity and dedication to your craft, if you’re actually solely relying on your natural ability. I have seen too many people have a skill set for something at a very young age, only to ride that out without any extra effort and being passed by a much less talented kid who shows up every day and puts in the work.

Gifted is great. Grit is better.

Where’s our head? I suppose this is important. In fact, I know it’s important. Because if it’s in the toilet – that’s not going to help us.

Sometimes our thoughts (the negative ones) can get the best of us, creeping out from the dark edges of our minds and reeking havoc by mucking up the crystal clear waters of our perspective and sending us in a tailspin that can take time and effort getting out of.

Here’s an idea Jim: Don’t go down that rabbit hole. It’s a dead end and you know it. Sometimes I feel like I have to indulge myself – playing the role of the martyr and playing this scenario out.

However, the wise one within me knows there’s no benefits to this self-induced torture. What we focus on becomes our reality, therefore, we must all do what it takes to not get caught up in the less-than-positive wave of emotions and remind ourselves that this moment is only temporary.

Before we know it, the sun is going to peek out from behind those clouds and we can then begin again.

Lord knows we all have a critic in our head that seems to never shut up. I know I do. However, I also know the best way to keep him/her at bay: By moving forward and engage our fears by squaring up our shoulders and moving forward.

This has a two-fold effect for us: First of all, it keeps us from remaining stagnate. Procrastination can be one of our worst enemies. Secondly, it keeps that nagging voice in our head quiet, even for just a brief period of time.

Eventually, we may begin to hear a very faint voice in the background. A different tone. Encouraging us. Supporting us. When my youngest son was around 4-5 years old, we had a seat that attached to my bike right in front of me and behind the handle bars. As we rode around the our hilly neighborhood, I would ask him to encourage me as we climbed the steepest of hills. He would say, “you can do it Dad, I believe in you.” This was exactly the words I needed to hear in order to get to the top.

This is the voice I long to hear in my head. And we will. As long as we continue to move forward.

Yes! It’s there in each and everyone of us. Maybe not in every moment, but’s it’s there.

Our brilliance resides within us like a perpetual flame – a pilot light – waiting to be ignited by our efforts and imagination. Ready to support our endeavors once we’ve committed to the – sometimes frightening – but all so gratifying process of creativity.

Just as we all have the capacity to breath the air we’re enveloped in with the use of our lungs and pump blood through our veins with our miraculous heart, we have the treasure of brilliance that lies within us ready to be used at any moment.

And the only price we must pay is to ask. To call upon ourselves to face the task at hand and begin. Merely begin.

Her name is brilliance and she lies within all of us.

Oh, how I love her company – oh how I love her presence. I will call upon her to pay me a visit when I’ve opened the door for her. When I’m deserving of her call.

I saw this quote in a small business the other day and it got me thinking:

What if I had the opportunity to meet myself for the first time? What would I think about me? Would I like me? Would I think I’m fake? Authentic? Would I trust me? Would I want to hang out with me? Do I give myself the appropriate amount of attention when having a conversation or does it look like I’m bored and/or distracted and want to move on.

I know what I’d want myself to be. I would like to be impressed with myself.

Maybe the one way of objectively assessing ourselves is by imagining meeting ourselves for the first time at a party and striking up a conversation. Maybe we can get to some true feedback on who we truly are as people – which may be very different than who we think we are.

I guess it would kind of be like watching yourself on the screen.

I think somedays I’d have no interest in meeting me and other days I’d probably get a kick out of myself and might even ask to go have some tea with myself.

Maybe.