We all have something unique within us that we can bring forth to help us succeed. Whether it’s a skill, a passion, or a personality trait, we can harness our individual strengths to push through difficult times. As the poet, Rumi, wrote, “The wound is the place where the light enters you.” May we not be afraid of our weaknesses or struggles, for in them may we find gifts that lead us to discover our greatest strengths.
Recently, I was discussing the power to overcome obstacles within ourselves with a dear friend, Russell Grimaldi, an Executive Coach, and Leadership Development Consultant. After our discussion, his passion and love of life continued to blaze, and he beautifully shared his insights.
“If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you fail to bring forth what is within you, what you fail to bring forth will destroy you”. This quote from the ancient text known as The Gospel of Thomas expresses what may well be the single most important idea that anyone can learn in order to become a great leader, build a great business … or even be a healthy and whole human being.
As individuals, organizations, and society, we have become so focused on the external that we have neglected our innate gifts. We are wed, if not addicted, to the visible, predictable, and quantifiable. Yet, all the data and analytics are merely manifestations, trailing indicators of the degree to which we successfully access and integrate the innate powers and potentials of each unique human being.
We must honor our own and others’ inner power, pay attention to what it is telling us, and remove those obstacles in our lives or companies that block its full expression. Referencing the second part of the quote evidences that failing to do so destroys us. That means that the repression is fundamentally unhealthy, which we all know from our personal experience.
There is no known limit to our creative capacity to solve problems and generate alternatives. But we must remember what Emerson said centuries later, “What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
May we always remember that we are all capable of greatness if we have the courage to bring forth what is within us. As Nelson Mandela once said, “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” So let us choose to be bold, to take risks, and to trust in ourselves and in each other. Together, we can overcome any challenge and achieve our goals and our dreams undreamed. Our best is yet to come!
Have a beautiful day and a magnificent week!!!
