Bring Out Your Brilliance

I suppose you might agree with my statement that diamonds are universally accepted as one of the most precious stones in our world. Henry Kissinger once said, “A diamond is a chunk of coal that did really well under pressure.” Elaborating on his quote with a layman’s understanding of how diamonds are formed, it is said that diamonds are made from a pure form of carbon that has been subjected to extreme pressure and heat over a period of time, in order for it to crystallize. These crystallized stone chunks formed at least 150 kilometers below the earth’s surface, are then brought closer to the surface through incidents like volcanic eruptions or so. The rough stones are mined and processed by being subjected to 6 different phases, to be transformed into a faceted gem that holds a coveted top-ranking position in the world of precious stones.

In my worldview, I can’t help but think of how the formation of diamonds is an analogy to our self-development and the resulting personal growth. Through this article, I hope that you will recognize the correlation and learn to embrace the formative opportunities in your life to bring forth your brilliance. I am a strong believer that each of us holds tremendous potential within us for greatness and excellence similar to the diamond that knows its inherent value as a precious stone. Just as extreme pressure and temperature which conceivably indicate a circumstance of significant discomfort result in the formation of a diamond, we experience setbacks, challenges and often get dislodged from our comfort zone, all of which impact the shaping of our character.

These are our formative opportunities to allow wisdom and experience to crystallize from the all the pressure and discomfort we undergo. So, when push comes to shove, how do you respond to these opportunities? Do you shun them to stay safe within your comfort zone? Or do you face them head on to come out better than before? Whatever may have been your choice before, know that you hold the key to your growth and the next time you find yourself in a formative situation, choose to learn from it and get through it, instead of running from it.

?Now, the magnificent chunk of rock we so admire, though subjected to a tedious formative effort, its value to others as a gem will remain a big fat zero unless it surfaces to where it can be found and until it can be refined to be of use. This brings me to my second point. Are you willing to be found and to undergo change and refinement so as to bring out your inherent potential for the benefit of yourself and of others around you? You can be an all-star player in your self-defined, confined world where you’re the only one who knows what you’re capable of, or you can put yourself out there to where others can find you and be a part of your journey in maximizing your potential.

A diamond when processed, undergoes marking, cleaving/sawing, bruiting, polishing, final inspection and re-cutting. Our process of self-development puts us through a similar journey of growing self-aware, identifying aspects within us, removing what’s detrimental to our growth, inculcating what’s beneficial to our growth, getting groomed on etiquette, interactions, interpersonal skills, getting coached, mentored, and being tested in situations that bring out how well we’ve shaped ourselves and to continue learning from our failures. So, ask yourself, how much of this journey do you pursue willingly? When the going gets tough and it often will, what keeps you anchored to stay the course and to not give up? Today, and hereon, if you get knocked down because you’re feeling overwhelmed, or are unable to accept feedback, or are impatient, or because your ego is bruised - whatever be your situation, remind yourself that you can choose to use the situation to bring out your best. Though it can get scary or embarrassing or agonizing or humbling, don’t feel threatened by change, rather, embrace it. What you’re willing to invest in yourself, is what you will get out of yourself.

As a parting thought, I hope you will more readily challenge yourself everyday to bring out your brilliance like a diamond, as in the words of Rita Gatourey, “Be like a diamond precious and rare, not like a stone that is found everywhere.”