Don’t Withhold Yourself – Add to the Pool
There’s this pool that exists in the world. It’s a pool from which we draw upon the shared experience and wisdom of the world around us. As humans, our ability to experience anything is limited. Our inherent knowledge of the world is flawed. Without the help of those around us, without the input of our brothers and sisters, we quickly lose ourselves.
Think of a time you were confused or frustrated with a problem that was beyond you. Do you remember the relief of having someone come alongside you and show you exactly what was needed?
This pool is something we all add to. Whether it’s in giving a friend advice or in creating a piece of art, we inform and enrich the lives of those around us with what we have to offer. By creating and sharing we fill this pool from which we all drink, unless of course we refuse to.
There are a lot of reasons to hold back, fear being paramount among them. But let me tell you something important: by holding back what you have to offer, you do us all harm.
You might say, “Well, I share what I have with people if they ask me.” My overly-dramatic analogy for this would be having the knowledge on how to disarm a special type of bomb, and then never disseminating that to the world at large. “I’ll disarm it if I’m in the vicinity.”
When we push you to follow your dreams, we want you to persevere succeed. But we have an ulterior motive: we want to reap the benefits of your success. Whether you gain knowledge that can save us heartache, or create art that can mend aches already in place, we want you to share it. If you have life experience that can instruct and bless others, why wouldn’t you lend it to them?
The world is scary enough as it is. We all struggle. It shouldn’t be something we make each other approach alone.
If you have something to give, be brave and step up! Our stories, our experiences, our joy – none of it is real until it is shared. There are too few people pouring into the pool as it is. Add what you have, share yourself with us, and the world will be a better place for it. I promise.
