I was
recently reading a book on professional development, and before even getting
into the “nuggets”, the preface discussed how to discover your “golden
self”. It went on to tell the story of a
Buddha statue in Thailand that was being moved out of an abandoned temple. Because of its massiveness, when the crane
began to move it, the statue began to crack, and then the rain came. After waiting until night to check the status
of its condition, the head monk went to look at the statue, which had been
covered by an accommodating canvas. The
monk “discovered” that underneath the 8-inch clay, (after chiseling at the
crack) was the true Buddha—covered in 18-carat gold. Where it was once considered to be an
abandoned clay statue, it is now valued at almost $200 million.
This is just
a metaphor for how we often cover, never develop or talk about the fascinating
talents, skills and experiences we have accumulated over the years. We tend to “discredit” our own abilities, by
being too modest or simply not really knowing our value. One way to begin to “discover” your true self
(golden self, as the book describes), is to write down all your
accomplishments—great and small. From
assisting a friend with a meaningful project, to volunteering at the local Y
community event, to getting nominated Employee of the Year, they have all
helped you—and others—see your dynamic potential. Which in turn, can inevitably lead you on the journey to your dream career.
There are three
(3) discoveries we will look at, to get you started on this meaningful
journey.
Discovery #1—Discover your need to be
challenged
We’ve heard
it time and time again, “Things we don’t work hard for, we won’t appreciate.”
As much as we hate to admit it, it’s very true.
Taking the “easy route”, may get us there quicker, but at what cost, and
for how long? Our strength is developed
and shaped during our times of struggle, and if we never experience those tough
times, we will never know our true strength.
So, remember to look at companies that will stretch you and help you to
grow as a person and professionally.
Discovery #2—Discover ability to
balance
This is an
area that lots of us may struggle in.
Finding that “perfect balance” of work and play sometimes seems to be a
hidden treasure, like the golden Buddha.
Our endless search for happiness will never come into being until we
find our sense of balance. This includes
work, family, friends, social/cultural events and activities and serving
others. Finding a harmonious center on
this continuum will help with stress relief and making more time for the things
that matters most.
Discovery #3—Discover your success
and true potential
What does
success mean to you? You must be able to
answer this in order to know what and how to set your goals. These goals should be set high and able to
bring you the joy, contentment, and dignity that will ultimately create an
honorable legacy to reflect. Therefore,
pursue your success with everything in you, and don’t allow anyone or anything
to keep you from it.
Discovering
the “True You” can be an eye-opening, daunting, yet refreshing experience, that
is well worth the pursuit. If you
haven’t already, start TODAY, because your journey truly begins—HERE!
