How to find an idea for yourself? How to find a way for your life? What difference do you make to the world? These are big and important questions. Each of us carries a unique gift. A talent or a unique combination of features, thanks to which he can leave behind a change in this world unattainable to others.
When we become aware of this gift, we gain the power to change the world. We leave our footprints, which make a significant difference to others. Discovering your unique path is not easy. But perhaps it is so that the meaning of our lives is to discover our "unique proposal for the world" in ourselves, and the purpose of our lives is ... to share it with others. What can be said for sure is that trying to copy others will lead us nowhere in the long run.
Today's inspiration in the series of coaching stories is a story about a young man throwing starfish into the ocean. Please consider her last sentence in particular and think about it in the broader context of your life.
The story of a man throwing starfish into the ocean.
Once upon a time, there was a wise man. He lived on the shores of the ocean and went for a walk on the beach every morning.
During one of these walks, he noticed in the distance, right on the border of sand and waves, a human figure moving as if to the rhythm of the music. He smiled to himself and decided to see who was dancing on the beach. As he approached this figure, he noticed that it was a young man who not so much danced as walked rhythmically to the edge of the waves, picked something up from the sand, and threw it very gently into the ocean.
Coming close enough, the wise man asked:
- "Good morning! What are you doing?"
- "I am throwing starfish into the ocean," replied the young man.
- "So I should probably have asked: why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"
- "The sun is already high, the tide is starting, and if I don't throw them into the water, they will die."
- “But young man, do you realize that the beach stretches for miles and there are starfish everywhere? What difference does it make if you throw some into the ocean? "
The young man listened intently, frowned, then bent down, threw another starfish into the ocean, and said:
- "It will make a huge difference to the one I throw in the water."
Each of us carries our own unique gift. A talent thanks to which he can leave behind a unique change in this world. If we become aware of this gift, we gain the power to change the world. We leave behind our traces that make a significant difference to others.
What is the moral of this story?
YOU choose what is important to YOU. It is YOU who gives sense and meaning to every situation and every activity. It works both ways. As Henry Ford said, "If you think you can, you're right. If you think you can't, you're right." As Marilyn Monroe said, "Copying others is a waste of the personality that you are."
There are no shortcuts in personal development. You have to find your own idea. In itself. This is done by getting to know yourself well, including realizing and accepting your shadows. Errors are also part of this process. We learn the most from them. It's not easy, but only in this way can you embark on a path that will reward you with a fulfilling life.
See also other coaching stories and parables:
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