An amazing coaching client who is currently in the "daring to dream" process recently made a very insightful observation that she needs to learn to validate herself for the ways she is uniquely gifted. I couldn't agree more!
Most people will agree that genetically, just like snowflakes, no two people are alike. Even identical twins have individual likes and dislikes, interests, passions, dreams, and talents. Intellectually, I believe most of us would say that every single person on the face of the earth has something unique to offer...something no one else in the world can exactly match.
Yet when it comes to leveraging our innate "specialness" to follow our dreams, I've noticed many of us start to trivialize the unique value we bring to the table. If we even recognize it at all. We might look at ourselves and see mostly our faults and weaknesses. After all, that is too frequently the feedback we've gotten from others since childhood (not to mention from our "inner critics"). Or we may see our strengths but doubt that they could ever really be useful to anyone else.
Another example of trivializing is how a friend of mine summed up a unique talent of hers with "oh, lots of people can do that." True, she is not alone in being able to ask all the right questions that many people miss so she can get all the details necessary to make an informed decision. But she is the only one who combines that particular ability with all her other wonderful skills, interests, personality, and life experiences.
You may be asking yourself why it matters that you recognize and validate your value. What's the point?
Look around you for a moment. There is no end of needs... major and minor... physical, mental, and emotional... in every facet of life and among all ages and socio-economic environments. You’ll find it everywhere from your own household to the other side of the world.
When everyday people like you and I don't recognize and use all that makes us uniquely us, somewhere, sometime, one of those needs goes unmet. We miss a chance to make the world a better place. We also miss a chance to experience the deep-rooted personal sense of fulfillment that only living our truest selves out loud in the world can bring.
So take some time to validate your value and acknowledge:
- You are unique. There is no one else with the exact combination of innate talents, skills, passions, dreams, personality, quirks, and life experiences that you have.
- You are amazing. The strengths you've already identified are immensely valuable to the world around you. And I guarantee there are many aspects of your unique brilliance you aren't even aware of yet.
- You are needed. No one else can fill the exact space or meet the exact needs in the exact way you can. There's a void when you don’t step into that space.
The world is waiting for you in all your uniqueness and giftedness. So what are you waiting for? There's never been a better time than right now to follow your dreams and make a difference in the world!
