Recently, I was perusing questions on Quora, the internet love-child of Wikipedia and Reddit. Besides the site being a bastion of knowledge from people all over the world (with insightful answers to questions like “Do most of Chinese know about the Tiananmen square event 27 years ago?”) it is also a place where those who are hurting go to look for answers.
I stumbled on one such question that gave me pause: "I feel that I have no talent and I'm not good at anything. I am just plodding my life in mediocrity and working hard to compete with this cunning, smart and talented world. Will I ever be able to achieve something big?"
Such a sad question and yet so beautiful, as the author of it has continued in but become increasingly intolerant with the narrative that they are not “enough.”
We are a culture obsessed with success. We don’t just like it, we worship it. There’s always someone more “successful” than us. Only the most famous, “best in class” are typically deemed worth our admiration. The problem is...that perspective is inherently, immensely broken.
And the author of that question knew when they asked it that there must be something more, even though she didn’t know how to dream that.
I had to respond.
“Your question is a welcome one. Thanks. It may be difficult for you to believe, but you are valuable. Not because you can do something with particular acumen or because people respect your talents, but because you are uniquely valuable simply by being yourself.
Our world often over-values people who are the most talented and effect the most change, but that's not how humanity actually ends up working. Many, many people's lives don't look so glamourous. In reality, all the talent and skills and abilities you need are wrapped up in you being you. Your imperfect self is the perfect way for you to use something that no one else has:
You.
You have the opportunity to make a difference in the reality around you. No one has ever lived like you have: experienced your joys, your hurts, your personal growth, struggles. Nobody. Nobody is just like you. And the perspective you thus have is valuable. Maybe that will mean you do something that many deem "great," but more likely—like most of the other billions of people who've lived thus far—you'll do things that are great in their simplicity.
You may never be thanked or lauded, but the value of your actions—and yourself—is no less true, regardless of whether others—or yourself—believe it.
So keep trying your best to do things, but maybe don't hold your identity so closely to the results of your actions or the responses of people around you.
And you'll then be able to see the great things that you're doing and will do naturally.”
It’s often not easy to see how the things we’re doing can make a difference, but the difference is there to be had, and no matter how small or trite it may seem, the positive effect we can have on others is incredibly important. And the way that it effectively helps fill the massive voids in our hearts will then sneak up on us as the best of surprises.
