Spread Your Light

• There are two ways to spread your light by being the candle on the mirror that reflects it
• Life’s a dance you learn as you go, sometimes you lead and sometimes you follow
• Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

 

These quotes have been circling me recently for various reasons. As a new school year is starting I think it’s important for all of us whether we are students, educators, parents, mentors or perhaps none of these, to look at our potential. New school years bring about new tensions, opportunities, and challenges. Because of this we must remember our potential, what we’re capable of, and how we can spread our light.

It is in our strengths that we are best suited to improve ourselves and others. When we take the time to recognize our strengths we feel comfortable in any situation we can use them. On the other hand, when we focus on our weaknesses we tend to feel vulnerable instead of empowered. We need to feel that we are good enough to excel; that we are not inadequate but powerful beyond measure.

Sometimes in order to become better, more confident, stronger, etc. we need the help of others. We can’t be ahead of everybody else all the time and never look back. There was a time when we struggled and had to work to get ahead and while we can hope we’re never back in that position, we’re not helping ourselves by leaving others in those places. It’s often really easy to forget what it was like when we were novices but we need to be aware of the feelings of others in order to help them.

In order to help people effectively we also need to be aware of what we’re good at. If you know your strengths aren’t in a certain area don’t try to be the hero. Find someone else who’s better than you, which requires admitting that someone else is better than you. Not only will this act humble and ground you, but it can also bring the other person up to realize his/her strengths and chase his/her potential.

There is much more to this issue than what I’m putting in this post since I am really trying to work on shorter, more focused trains of thought. I encourage you as a reader to think about what your potential is, however you define it. I also encourage you to think about what strengths can help you achieve your definition of your full potential.