It's Already Within You

Take a few deep breaths and think of someone in your life that you admire. It doesn't have to be big admiration or some famous person, and could be as simple as a friend that you look at and think, "I want more of that in my life!" Ok, do you have your person? Now, I want you to write down at least three qualities or characteristics that you admire about that person. Big ones, little ones, anything! Ok, do you have your qualities written down? Now, look at those three qualities or characteristics. Read them a few times. Got it? Ok, now, stick with me here… I have news for you: the qualities that you admire, the characteristics you wrote down.. You already possess them. Yes. It's that simple. _____________________________________________________________ Several years ago I found myself doing a round of local speaking engagements, and that was the exercise I most loved inviting people to do with me. To this day, when a friend shares with me that they're struggling with some personal development, I'm still known to pull it out of a bag of tricks. I loved the look on people's faces when I told them that they already possessed the qualities they most admired. I could almost see the lightbulbs turn on, or the closed doors start to inch open, and even witnessed a few misty eyes looking back at me. Here's the truth: You cannot see in others, what is not already present within yourself. What you admire in others, is already within you. Did your list include kindness, compassion, courage, trustworthiness, authenticity, integrity, or love? Did your list include drive, discipline, or doing what's right even if it's hard? Maybe it included a great sense of humor, or having a ridiculously great ability to navigate public transit. It doesn't matter how important or frivolous the words are that you wrote down… what matters is that you notice the qualities. We could dive deep in to the ideas of collective consciousness, and could debate the intricacies of whether there is any original thought to be had, or we could get in to objective reality… but for today I'd just like to keep it simple: You notice and are aware of amazing qualities in others, because those things are also within you. The other really incredible thing to remember here is that if you possess those qualities in one area of your life, then you know you are capable of them in all areas of your life. If you're truthful with some people, you can be truthful with all people. If you're open-hearted in one area of your life, you can be open-hearted in all areas of your life. If you have confidence in one space, you can have confidence in all spaces. It's not always easy, it's not always pretty, and you might have some work to do. I do, too. The great news, though, is that you already have the capacity. It's already possible. It's already there.. calling you, leading you, bringing you closer to your highest and best self. You already are what you most admire in others. In love and gratitude always <3