Have you ever had that feeling that the world doesn’t need another you? Remember that great business idea you had, but you never executed it because someone else was doing it? And of course, they were doing it better than you ever could. Now, why would the world need another daycare, hair salon, personal trainer, business coach or any other business that has ever come to your mind? They wouldn’t, because this world doesn’t need another you.
It is incredible how this lie continually repeats itself in our heads day after day until it soon becomes our truth. We close the door to so many opportunities, blindly allowing them to pass because we have bought into a lie that enables us to take a passive seat toward our future.
The truth is, the world does need YOU!
Your gifts and talents may not be unique to you, but when your heart meets with these characteristics, none can compare. It came to life one day for me as I was listening to a podcast by Courtney Saunders, founder of Think and Grow Chick. Her platform is geared toward millennium women, but I heard her say something that every woman should heed, “There is enough room for every woman to win. It is your unique gifts and strengths that will always separate you.”
I remember rewinding it and replaying it several times. What she spoke of had been a significant struggle for me throughout my life. I’ve always been confident in who I was and the many gifts and talents I possessed, but they were still just for me. I always thought there were enough teachers, so many leaders, multitudes of crafters, bloggers and that world didn’t need another.
I think as women we are so conditioned by society to compare everything from our education, our kids’ school grades, our spouses, the type of car we drive, the shoes we wear, even down to the stores we may grocery shop in. How do we truly embrace who we are and live out our purpose when we obsess about what other people are doing?
We always want to be better and do better so when we see another woman doing what we desire to do we step back and undercut ourselves by acknowledging that she has already taken our position.
I love the quote by Marianne Williamson, From A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
“There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
One thing I do know is that absolutely no one can translate your unique gift overflowing with a whole lot of heart like you. You may bake the same cake, with the same ingredients, but I promise you, the love and the passion you have for baking will overshadow the fact that you started off with the same ingredients.
So be brave, because the world needs you to stop measuring your gifts up to someone else’s. Whatever your passion is, someone is waiting on you to operate in it.
There is enough room for you to flourish in your dreams so what are you waiting for? Imagine where you were last year, where you are now and where you could be this time next year if you gave yourself permission to be the best of you and live out all your dreams.
Telanna is a businesswoman and personal excellence coach. Through her free resources and personal coaching, she helps moms manage their time effectively so can live out their purpose, by permitting themselves to do what they love. Find her on your favorite social media platform @escapeyourmess.