SPIRITUALITY says, our talent…that unique skill we are born with, is a gift on loan, in partnership with a higher power so we can carry out our life’s purpose.
Our skills could be the sum total of lessons learnt, in some other lives, that remained imprinted on our soul.
We then become the instrument through which a need of this world is fulfilled.
Neither are we the sole creators, nor the ones who deserve the applause.
ECONOMICS calls this talent the ‘service sector’ and regards it as ‘wealth’.
Be it the art of an artist;
Notes of a musician;
Dance of a dancer;
Sport of a sportsman;
The charm of a salesman;
The patience of a teacher;
Organisation of a leader…
HISTORY says, nomads first wandered as tribes, working together as a community with each one using their skill set to benefit all.
With settlements, came the barter system.
“You can have what I can offer…so long as I get something I need in return.”
Finally, came CURRENCY. The quantification of our talents!
A painting for so much…a haircut for less.
Unfortunately, this determination of a finite price for our skills, also brought boundaries.
Income, gain, loss, success,
position, power, limelight, who gets the credit….
deadlines, margins, marketing…
working hours, pay scale…
money that suddenly made the world go round!
Yes, there may have been a need for a structured developed civilisation, but it left the soul’s need to fulfill its duty incomplete.
The preconditioned notion became ingrained in our mindset, to always ask one pertinent question before doing anything…
“What’s in it for me?”
We thus created a world where everyone’s ultimate goal is to work only for a profit.
And you’re viewed as an alien, a do-gooder, a good-for-nothing even, if you dared deviate from that norm.
We now live in a disappointing world where goodness done in silence, is perceived as a weakness by many.
How did we let our world reach this stage where humanity became the exception?
Where kindness became ‘Insta-worthy’?!
Where the ones who do lend a helping hand, believe they deserve bragging rights!
How did we allow what should be our duty and basic human decency…to come at a price…or, at the very least, a medal?!
And then… the world suddenly came to a standstill and all the wealth and power weren’t protection enough!
Then came a time which showed us exactly how low we had stooped!
When helpfulness now became valued at a premium!
So the need of the hour now is…for everyone to be a rebel…to find your passion….find that thing you do when you have nothing else to do…that thing that you love…which is your calling.
But don’t be miserly about sharing it!
Don’t rob the world of your contribution just because ‘it’s not your problem’, ‘there’s nothing to be gained from it’,
Don’t let words like ‘no demand’… ‘low market sentiment’… ‘no sales’…prevent you from creating.
Don’t fall into the overwhelming trap that if you’re not the best at something, why bother trying?!
Do NOT be a victim of competition!!
A bird doesn’t sing because someone bought tickets to its show.
A bird doesn’t even sing because it’s good at it.
It sings to its hearts content simply because…it can!
And it must!!
If not shared, unused skills consume us from within causing a void that no amount of profit or wealth can fill.
So don’t underestimate the power of your ability to make someone’s day.
If smiling is what you’re best at doing, do it.
It could just be your infectious laugh that someone needed to hear.
A melody hummed beside someone’s hospital bed, whether in tune or not, could work miracles.
A lonely hand held, a cupcake shared,
An amateur haircut given,
Something you taught a child once,
Or teaching an adult how to adapt to this new world of smartphones,
Planting more trees,
Inventing path-breaking technology,
Performing open heart surgery,
Reaching space…
…anything & everything in between!!
It takes all sorts to make the world…
And our world needs all sorts of skills to keep it from crumbling!
As Aristotle famously said,
“Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, therein lies your vocation!”
So You be You!!
Just please make sure that you do!
P.S – As our lives resume again…let’s revisit history and repair our souls. Let’s all devote some time towards:
#productivitywithoutaprice
(Except for those of you whose skill is to give the world’s tightest, warmest hugs. You guys need to show some restraint right now!)
Sunset Effect - Nitya Satyani 