SHAKING THE TREE ... #11
Why you’re better than you think you are
I visited the Smithsonian museum’s Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. just recently. If you’ve never been it’s worth your time. There’s SO much to see and I’m sure I only saw a fraction of what’s on display.
As I wandered around in the gallery of human origins, an odd thought struck me.
Every non-natural object we have access to has come into being because someone, somewhere did something that created a result: someone designed a tool, or an airplane or a typeface or a piece of fabric or something that brought about a change.
This has gone on in some way or other across every facet of humanity for several million years.
One idea, one development, one change after another, all of which has been influenced by the past, that in turn has changed the present, and all of which has shaped the future.
Think about that for a moment.
At some point we all underestimate our abilities in various areas of life.
We don’t think we’re good enough.
We don’t feel we’re smart enough, or tall enough, or rich enough, or good looking enough, and so on.
But the truth is that we’re all much better than we think they are at whatever we're doing or plan to do.
Firstly, we tend to focus on our weaknesses rather than our strengths, leading to a negative bias. Secondly, we spend way too much time comparing ourselves to other people who we believe are more skilled, leading to feelings of inadequacy.
However, we all have our unique strengths and experiences that contribute to our abilities and our skills and achieve our goals.
Therefore, it's important for us to recognize our strengths and potential, and to have confidence in our abilities. By doing so, we can overcome self-doubt and achieve pretty much anything we set our minds to.
7 reasons why you are better than they think they are at whatever you're doing or plan to do.
Experience and decision making: In everything you do you bring your unique experiences to the table, all of which can help you excel in your chosen field. Trust in your abilities and trust in the knowledge that you have gained from your experiences.
Passion and interests: When you’re passionate about and interested in something, you’re more likely to put in the time and effort needed to succeed. Your passion will also show in the quality of your work, making it stand out.
Growth mindset and vision: Having a growth mindset means that you are open to learning and growing and seeing other possibilities. This willingness to learn and improve gives you an edge over those who are stuck in their ways.
Adaptability and a willingness to change: The world is constantly changing, and those who can adapt to new situations will always thrive. Embrace change and be open to new ideas and ways of doing things.
Creativity and a willingness to grow: Creative thinking can help you solve all kinds of problems in innovative ways while empowering you to come up with fresh ideas. Don't be afraid to think outside the box and try new things.
Resilience and commitment: Failure is a natural part of the learning process. Resilience and commitment mean you can bounce back from setbacks and keep pushing forward.
Effort and forward motion: Success doesn't come overnight. It takes hard work and dedication to achieve your goals. When you put in the effort, you are more likely to see results and feel a sense of accomplishment.
The lesson here is simple: the secret to getting somewhere lies in not giving up trying.
As always, thanks for reading.
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P.S. Next time on Shaking the Tree … Essential life lessons from Ted Lasso.