hidden gifts

I have been thinking recently about the incredible wealth of inherent gifts and talents—our true natural resources as human beings—that go untapped the world over, day upon day, lifetime after lifetime. Many of us never know what inspired abilities lurk just beneath the surface of our daily responsibilities and consciousness, while others are painfully aware of the unsung songs and blank canvases that could have come alive, if we would only have made the commitment of time, attention, and opportunity to make it happen.

I think of the genius wasted, of countless untapped minds whose hands were kept busy through forced labor, picking cotton every day of their lives; the would-be mathematicians and diplomats who likely received no education and then died in childbirth following a short career as wife and mother; the artists, scientists, and healers whose gifts were terrorized into dormancy by laws and attitudes regulating religion, sexuality, gender, caste, parentage, and skin color. And I wonder how many more—especially today—keep our own gifts hidden safely away simply because we are afraid of sharing them.

Sometimes we are afraid of not being good enough, not measuring up to some elusive standard we cannot quite define. Worse, we may be afraid of not being perfect, assuming that only talents that can consistently be performed with flawless precision are worthy. We might compare ourselves to the greatness and accomplishments of others and become discouraged, forgetting that every master was once a beginner. And some of us are even afraid of the very success we secretly crave, unwilling to give up the safety of our cocoons and to be subjected to the evidence of both our imperfections and our magnificence.

Too many people go through life never knowing what precious gifts they hold within, what true resources they are. That is a tremendous tragedy. Maybe I'm just an optimistic idealist, but I honestly believe that each person has real value and has so much more to offer the world than just showing up for work each day. We all have a gift to share—even if it is something that only ever touches one other person.

In her Mutant Message Down Under, Marlo Morgan recounted the months she spent in the Australian outback with an unusual group of Aborigines who referred to her—and to all "civilized" people—as "Mutants." She wrote:

After the game was over, one of the men asked me if it was true some people live their entire lives and never know what their God-given talents are? I had to admit I had patients who were very depressed, who felt life had passed them by, but others had made a contribution. Yes, I had to admit, many Mutants did not think they were given any talent, and they did not think about the purpose of life until they were dying. Big tears came into his eyes as he shook his head, showing how difficult it was to believe such a thing could happen.

"Why can't Mutants see, if my song makes one person happy, it is a good job? You help one person, good job. Can only help one at a time anyway."

Just for today, why not reach down within and bring your own inherent talents out into the light? For those who are not used to living so openly, this can be both an exciting and frightening idea. Still, it's worth giving it a shot. Try it for a day, for a week, or longer. Offer the benefits of your strengths to your neighbors and friends, without judgement or fear. There is nothing to lose, and everything to gain. You need not be a proven and accomplished master to be of value to your community. All you have to do is be open, and willing.

As my reminder to myself to "get over myself"—to let go of my insecurities and rationalizing—and just get on with it, I keep the following on the wall of my office:

I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument while the song I came to sing remains unsung.
—Rabindranath Tagore

What song have you come to sing?