Be your best self to the limit!
The show, ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’, has always been a favourite of mine. There have been many debates on which episode is the best, if asked, my pick is the episode named ‘Tapestry’ (episode 15 of Season 6). While this series was always engaging, this particular episode offered several lessons about how we are to get the most out of life and how we are to boldly...be bold!
...the bigger lesson is one of ‘Lo barato sale caro’ - A Spanish phrase which means things that come too cheaply or easily will eventually become expensive. A corresponding phrase in English would be ‘if something is too good to be true, it probably is.’...
We hear a lot of about inflation and how it gradually lowers the purchasing power of our present-day dollars. There was an occurrence a few weeks ago that illustrated this principle to me quite clearly.
I worked with a gentleman many years ago (Let's call him John). Every time I think of him, I am reminded of the lesson that I learned from him - that no matter how bad things may be, I must always be my best self, no matter what. In what become a highly teachable moment, he became the man that lost two jobs.
...while my broken earphones may have been a relatively small loss, they presented me with a great life lesson and a powerful teachable moment...
As it turns out, many successful people, regardless of their evidential giftedness and hard work, felt that they were largely lucky and undeserving of their achievements. As many of them stated, they were waiting to be exposed by the world as frauds who were just lucky. What these persons were suffering from was the Imposter Syndrome. Just like them, you’ve likely felt like an imposter at some point.
While many persons have the best intentions when giving the gift of the truth to others, often times the recipient gets distracted by the wrapping. The right message can be said in the wrong way. Consider my encounter with a doorman in Colombia as an example.
Every time I get to know somebody, or have to work closely with somebody, I always tell them the same thing: "Do not be afraid to tell me that I have something in my nose."
...When I was younger and wanted to be seen as “cool”, I could not understand why people seemed to be so intentionally uncool. Dressing and acting cool and having people’s approval was important, but these people were not cool and could not be bothered to even care....I realized that was kind of the point, not to be cool but to be happy just being yourself.
When things don’t go your way, it is so easy to blame any and everybody for their supposed role in your misfortune; everybody but you that is!.....
WILFRED BAIN 