Are You The One?

Let’s take a quick inventory of life’s many heartbreaks:

• You didn’t win class?president.
• You didn’t get a spot on the school?varsity team.
• You didn’t get the?interview.
• You didn’t get the?job.
• You didn’t get the?promotion.
• You didn’t win the?pitch.
• You didn’t get the?project.
• You didn’t win the?competition.

Such things happen all the time. And while not everything in life is within our control, you’d be surprised how many things actually are.

• Not winning the position?doesn’t mean you stop serving.
• Not getting into the team?doesn’t mean you stop playing.
• Not getting the interview?doesn’t mean you stop applying.
• Not getting the job?doesn’t mean you can’t get it elsewhere.
• Not getting the promotion?doesn’t mean the conversation stops.
• Not winning the pitch?doesn’t mean you can’t pitch it elsewhere.
• Not getting the project?doesn’t mean you can’t get another.
• Not winning the competition?doesn’t mean you stop competing.

You get it by now.?In most things that life throws at us, it’s a matter of choosing ourselves and not waiting for people to choose us.

We humans are a funny bunch, aren’t we? For such naturally self-conscious creatures, we sure put so much power in the hands of others. We look to other people for?validation — we’re eager to hear from them that?we’re good enough. We wait endlessly for them to say?“I choose you”. I would know — I’m human, like you.

Who made them boss, anyway? Well, we did. The good news is that we can take that power away from them, too.?All we have to do is believe in ourselves. All we have to do is pick ourselves.

Pick yourself.?Seth Godin said that. Just two words, packed with so much?power. And at the same time, so much?responsibility.

How come? Well, not only does picking yourself require the?self-awareness?to know you’re?the one, but also the?courageto stand up to the establishment and say?“you’re wrong about me”. What’s more, picking yourself hands over all the?responsibility?to you — “Oh, so you’re the one? Show me.”

I’m the one.

I know it.

I’ll do it.

Watch me.

It takes real?courage?and?strength?to declare this. But for those who rise up to the challenge, endless possibilities await.

So, are we taking a number again, or are we ready to take our place in the world?

#chooseyourself #voteyourself #pickyourself #selfawareness #courage #strength #perspective #selfhelp #guidance #belief #confidence #selfworth #responsibility #independence