You must look for ways in which you can enrich the lives of others. What can you do to make someone’s day better? Practice bringing your talents to the table and sharing them. Take action all the time, and make sure that it is not only for your own benefit. This is not a one-day experiment. Practice great love for those around you, and you will be rewarded with an abundant life.
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Your secret weapon for success is you. No one else has your unique combination of abilities. That means you have talents to share that not one other person on this earth can put out there. You own a monopoly, and it’s inside yourself. You’ve spent some quality time throughout this year discovering your talents, and you will continue to do so throughout your life. Now, here is your battle: you must continue to fight to be nobody but yourself.
The quote above from e.e. cummings points out how easy it is for you to sabotage your dreams by trying to be something you are not. It seems as though this world is doing its best, night and day, to make you into everybody else. Remember that your ultimate strength is your uniqueness. Don’t let anyone try to mold you into something that doesn’t feel like you.
Your assignment today is to write down all of your unique traits. Write about your quirky habits, your endearing behaviors, and your special talents. If you were going to write an ad about yourself, what would it say?
This exercise can be slightly uncomfortable for many people. It’s hard to talk about how great you are. It feels self-centered. Nevertheless, do this exercise. You’re not going to share it with anyone else. It’s a reminder that you are an amazing work of art, and you should be constantly working to utilize your secret weapon—you!
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Sheila loved women’s magazines. In a way, they gave her an identity. She would buy a handful of them every Friday night and pour over the fashions and the makeup throughout the weekend. Sheila flipped through the glossy pages and plucked her eyebrows to resemble one model, dyed her hair to look like another, and created her wardrobe after all of the latest fashions. If someone asked Sheila what her favorite color was, she would probably consult Vogue before she answered.
What was she doing? Sheila was looking outward to find her inner beauty. It wasn’t necessary. We are all influenced by our surroundings, and that can be a positive thing. However, it is extremely important to discover your unique characteristics from the inside out rather than from the outside in.
What are you doing to stay true to yourself today? Are you constantly trying on the masks of outside influences instead of appreciating the face God has given you, as Shakespeare put it? Remember, you are the secret weapon for success. You can’t let your unique talents emerge if you are constantly covering them up with the status quo.
When you are bombarded with outside influences today—and you will be—think before you act. Are you picking up that new bestselling book just because it’s popular, or are you really interested in the story? Did you choose the shoes you’re wearing today because you like them or because you saw a famous actor wearing them in a magazine? Let your face emerge as a powerful influence today.
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Carl was going to do what it took to fit in at his new law firm. One of the partners asked him if he played golf, and he blurted out, “Of course!” Hundreds of dollars in lessons later, he was a passable player. Carl hated the game, but he thought he needed to be out there with the other guys. That wasn’t the only new thing that he adopted. Carl’s wardrobe changed from modest navy suits to Armani designs and flashy cufflinks, he got a Blackberry and a membership to the country club, and finally, he traded in his Honda for a BMW.
Carl caught a glimpse of himself in the hall mirror when he came home one night. Who is that guy? he thought,
