“You can’t be what you can’t see.” Marian Wright Edelman
During a training session I asked a group of young emerging leaders, “Would anyone like $10.00?” That question gained immediate attention as every person’s hand instantly shot up. “Whoever wants the money must find it!” At first it was a motivated group seeking out the hidden prize as they all began to comb the room. It wasn’t long before some ended their search. For some, the hunt was not worth their effort. Others thought I was misleading them, so they quit. A few believed this was a great time to socialize. Minutes later, one young man caught a glimpse of the $10.00 bill peeking out of the textbook held firmly in my hand. He shouted, “I see it! I see it!” His ability to see it positioned him to be in possession of it. You couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as I delivered the promised $10.00.
Life’s joy is practiced by what I give far more than what I receive. However, many go through life oblivious to their fundamental responsibility to the world. Without true self-discovery one will never grasp who they really are or what they can accomplish.
Until there is sighting of our internal wealth we’ll never experience its actualization. Actualization is demonstrated when your internal gifts align with your external roles. It is a place of great fulfillment because your contribution to the world is being expressed through your function and delegated responsibilities. It’s the discovery of your full potential and the unlocking of creativity and unique expression!
You’ve heard the Marc Anthony quote, “If you do what you love you will never work a day in your life.” Every person on the planet desires this, but few find it. Why?
Here are some of the reasons why I believe people may be hindered from unlocking the treasure within:
Impatience: It’s a world of high speed internet, fast computers, and microwave cooking. We want things NOW! I’m thankful for all these time-saving conveniences, but discovering the treasure within is a deliberate process. One that is followed by a life-long practice of focused determination to steward this inner wealth.
Entertainment: By entertainment I am referring to a place of function without thought. It’s about pleasure, “chillin’ out,” and simply having fun. This is needed in our lives to emotionally and physically recover, however, it is to complement our lives, not regulate them. Our minds need to be actively engaged with purpose-driven endeavors which give us opportunities to make a difference in our world.
Indifference: Our purpose ultimately benefits others! When we don’t care about our potential we are displaying that we do not value those we are purposed to impact. This is the stance of powerlessness going through the motions of life and never truly living.
“Because of indifference, one dies actually before one dies.” Elie Wiesel
Divestiture: Divestiture is the contradiction to investment. It is a refusal to take your time, effort, or finances and plant them into self-discovery and self-development in order to obtain the future benefits that will positively impact others. It is through investment that we increase and obtain an experiential reality to model the way for another.
“What a man can be, he must be. This need we call self-actualization.” Abraham Maslow
There are always higher heights and deeper depths to discover! I encourage you to govern your choices in such a way that position you for open doors that you’ve not yet imagined. We have the power of choice to pursue discovering identity and purpose in order to reach the fulfillment of actualization. Your family, community and workplace needs you—the true you—who you really are!
Dr. Melodye Hilton
Recent Comments