In What Area of Your Life Do You Feel Like a Failure? Have Hope.
by toinette2014
One of the lessons I learned early is that whatever you seem worst at is perhaps where an undiscovered talent lies. It is as though we deliberately ignore our talents and go out of our way to deny them. I discovered this about forty years ago when I was attending classes at the School of Practical Philosophy in New York City, and I was chosen to go to the London school for a week, learn the rudiments of a particular calligraphy discipline, and return to New York to teach it to the other students. At first I thought the person who had asked me to do this was out of her mind. I pointed out that I had the most dreadful handwriting in the whole group. But apparently that was one the reasons I had been chosen. And so I flew to London, devoted an entire week to calligraphy, and went on to be in charge of calligraphy in the New York school for many years, delighting in the forms of the letters and the spaces they described. (It did wonders for my calligraphy, but, unfortunately, nothing for my handwriting, which is execrable to this day).
I observed the same principle in action with another student who was very feisty and always causing problems. Eventually this man was asked to teach the class on a day when the tutor was absent, and he took it over as to the manner born. He never caused trouble in the class again.
So take a moment and consider where your talent might be hiding….
From Nothing Left Over
Hello Toinette,
I just read your post and I must say that I agree with you. We, especially women, are so quick to focus on what we perceive to be our failures. This became apparent to me as I was writing my book. Midway through my manuscript I sent it to my editor and was astonished when he told me “Elizabeth, you are a writer”! Perhaps he was referring to my passion when I include the senses of the reader such as taste, smell. I do it quite well, however, I humbly give the glory to My Beloved who worked through me.
We all have gifts, we just need to go within, seek the courage and confidence needed from within to allow those gifts to shine to the world.
Thank you so much Toinette, this is an area I need to work on a bit more.
You have gently reminded me of this and I appreciate it.