There’s you, and then there’s the real you. What’s the difference? I dare say it’s that you don’t really know or believe in the truly amazing you who exists underneath the fears, insecurities, and doubts that may be currently ruling your life. My mission with this blog is to introduce or reintroduce you to the real you.
In my last blog called Beneath the surface, I talked about the fact that the things showing up in our lives are often the result of what is bubbling away beneath the surface. Do you know what I also believe is residing beneath the surface for most people? The real and authentic person they were created to be. The reality is that the quality of our lives and the outcomes we experience in life are based on the beliefs we have and the words we speak about ourselves. My question is, do these beliefs and words reflect the real and incredible you?
Last week, I was grateful for the opportunity to talk to two groups of incredible people. These were employees of a company that makes the big trailers that trucks pull around the country to deliver stuff where it is needed. This was a group of hard-working humans who put those trailers together. There were people who welded, painted, assembled, and performed many other vital trades. There were people who looked after the wonderful tradespeople and did many of the administrative roles. Every one of these people is critical in the process of putting those trailers on the back of trucks, so they can deliver essentials all around the country, to make lives better. As important and valuable as these people are, I dare say, they may not believe in their true worth. Hence, I titled my talk, The Real You.
The real you may be buried deep under layers of doubt, fear, trauma, and other people’s crappy opinions. The real you may be hiding for fear of mistakes, failures, or worries about other people’s crappy opinions. The real you is potentially far more amazing and capable than you may currently believe. The real you is kicking, screaming, and scratching to be uncovered so you can live the life that you are destined to live. My question to you right now is, if this message is appropriate for you, are you ready to set the real you free?
At the start of my talk last week, I said, there are two things I know about myself for sure. The first is that I am better than I think. The second is that everything I experience in my life is based on how I think. As I reflect back on all the outcomes I have experienced over the years, from the highs of playing professional sport, authoring eight books, success in business, great relationships, optimal wellbeing, to the lows of being sacked, losing money, getting divorced, conflict in my life, self-doubt, and fear, I know one thing for sure. It was my thinking that led to every one of these experiences, from the highest of highs, to the deepest of lows.
If it is true that I am capable of creating both incredible experiences and horrendous outcomes as a result of the thoughts I choose, then it means that the real me, who is often buried under the surface, can be uncovered and shine at any time I choose. All I need to do is direct my thoughts towards how incredible I am. And I am incredible. As are you. How do I know the real you and I are incredible? For one reason, and one reason only. Because we are here. It is our existence which is evidence of our worth. I often joke, as I was born in September, 9 months after New Years, that I was the outcome of drunken New Years Eve amour. That would seem to indicate I may have been an accident. I am no accident, nor are you. Your creation was planned, and you are meant to be here for one reason, and one reason only. To be proud of the real you and be unashamedly the best you can be.
The great artist Pablo Picasso said it this way; the meaning of life is to find your gift, and the purpose of life is to give it away. What that means is that we all have a gift. The real you has a gift, and when you give it away, you will bless lives every day of your life. You are not meant to hide. You are not meant to shrink in fear of what others may think. You are not meant to keep your gift to yourself. The real you is alive to shine, to use your individual gift, whatever that may be, and to give it away. That gift may be your smile. That gift may be your compassion. That gift may be your courage. It may be your artistic ability, your resourcefulness, your physical prowess, or your emotional intelligence. Whatever it is, it is the real you and you have the responsibility to live authentically and be you, the real you, for the rest of your life.
As always, the guest of my podcasts this week will help you in this area. Take less, do more is with Glen Van Peski, and Play a bigger game is with Tory Trewhitt. Both will help you explore and uncover the real you. Life is short, and you are needed. Please don’t spend one more second of your life hiding the real you.