What comes easy is where we should focus our energy and our time, our lives, because that’s what we’re here to do. Could it be that deviously simple, that the key to our life’s success is to capitalize on our gifts and talents and thereby make the world a better place? Gee, that sounds a heck of a lot easier than the drudgery of at least four years of college, and possibly graduate school, to become degreed in a vocation that looks and sounds nice on paper but is planets away from our true gifts.
Why do we, as a society, think this way? Why do we push our children to get “real jobs” or “good jobs?” What is a real job or a good job anyway?
Shouldn’t we each decide what is uniquely real and good for ourselves by where we shine our brightest?
Sure, gifts have to be honed and sharpened, but if the raw talent, that diamond in the rough, exists, let’s cultivate those beautiful seeds to bloom into what is really meant to be.
My heart breaks when I recount the story of my 19-year-old cousin, whose parents happen to think resembles me in ways beyond appearance, telling me what he wanted to do with his life (that’s us above, sightseeing in China).
As a high school freshman, he’d excitedly shared with me his dream of becoming a sportscaster. A lifelong sports fanatic, he dreamt of becoming the next Kirk Herbstreit, an ESPN announcer and alum of my alma mater, The Ohio State University School of Journalism.
Before he was even in his teens, my cousin had started writing and publishing a neighborhood newsletter that was better written than some newspapers. Without financial expectations yet bridling his creativity, he designed websites and directed and produced a high school video documentary that won numerous awards.
Fast forward to his junior year, when I inquired again about his professional aspirations, and he resignedly told me he was going to study Engineering. His rationale? His parents are both successful engineers with careers that provide healthy discretionary incomes. Aaaggh! I wracked my brain trying to figure out how to intervene, how to help steer this talented, creative young man to follow his heart and soul’s desires – to leverage his natural gifts- in lieu of the downtrodden conventional career path.
My cousin, the budding sportscaster, in action.
Alas, I failed to intervene, but I’m hopeful the Universe is creating its own intervention. While my cousin has excelled academically and is about to begin his sophomore year as an OSU honors Engineering major, he’s also embraced opportunities making it impossible to ignore his dreams.
As a freshman, he capitalized on an opportunity to be a sports commentator on the student radio and television networks and even hosted his own show on the former. I was elated to learn recently that he’ll be continuing his broadcasting gigs this year. I hope the unparalleled joy of doing what he loves, what comes so naturally, keeps blooming contagiously and leads him to follow his life’s true path.
Are you answering the call of what comes easy for you, allowing your true gifts to flow?
Even if it isn’t the basis of your job or career, look for ways to weave what you love into your life. You’ll find the space you create for yourself becomes boundless.
Once you allow your light to emerge, it becomes impossible to eclipse.
