There Is A Treasure In Your House. Now Go Find It.

Have you ever read those stories where someone goes up to the attic in their house and finds an old chest they never knew they had? Then, when they open that chest, they find something valuable – say a painting – that may be worth millions? Now, suppose for a minute, you somehow knew there was an old painting hidden somewhere in your house and you go tell your friend. “Oh, don’t be ridiculous. You don’t have any old painting in your house… unless you mean that painting your daughter drew for you back in kindergarten, which is still hanging on your refrigerator wall.”, she would laugh. Your friend does not believe you for one minute. Not only that, she is making fun of you for even thinking that there’s a valuable painting in your house. Does any of that take away from the fact that the painting is still somewhere in your house? Is the painting going to suddenly, magically disappear just because your friend doesn’t believe in that painting? Now consider this: suppose, for a moment that you believed what your friend is telling you. “Your right,”, you concede. “There’s nothing valuable in my house. I’ll just stop looking.”. That, unfortunately is the attitude many people end up taking. They may initially have a great idea, or decide to start a new career or maybe they discovered they have some type of talent, then they go announce their plans to their friends and what is their reaction? See if you’ve heard any of the below statements before: “What? You’re gonna do what? Don’t be ridiculous!”. “You’ll never be a [insert dream career here]. You’re too [insert ignorant description here].”. “You’re back at it again? Why? Remember how you failed the last three times you tried? Don’t do it.”. Can you imagine if Thomas Edison listened to that statement? “Oh, don’t be ridiculous, Thomas… you already failed 9,999 times trying to get that lightbulb to work. Oh, and by the way… don’t even give me that ‘I successfully found 9,999 ways it won’t work’ routine.”. They listen to their friends, their family and maybe even the “authorities”. In the end, they never find their true talent. Never accomplish that big goal they set out to do. Never realize their dreams. Often times, these people will stay right where they are. rnHere’s a fact of life. Talent, ability and the desire to dream and become more is just like that valuable painting hidden in your house. Actually, it’s more valuable, and nothing anybody says is going to make these your talents and desires magically disappear. It’s also something that you either have inside of you or you don’t, and most people (if not everyone) I come across do have these traits to some degree. rnHowever, don’t get me wrong. Unlike many self help gurus out there, I am NOT saying you can accomplish anything and everything. You may, you may not. Personally, I strongly believe in the Bible passage, Romans 12:8 which states that everyone is endowed with certain gifts and talents. Even more important than being able to accomplish anything and everything under the sun is our ability to go into that house of ours, to find our treasure hidden somewhere, then use that gift, that talent, even that idea to grow and to become more. Also, don’t be afraid to ask someone, perhaps a mentor, a coach, a teacher or even a trusting, well-meaning friend to perhaps identify that special talent in you, or have them give you their perspective on that idea of yours, as long as it’s not meant to be belittling. Sometimes, we need others to help us “clean our house” to find that treasure. Often times, others may discover things about us that we never even knew existed! After you’ve done that, then perhaps you can go back to your cynical buddies and help them clean up their house and find their treasure!