The incomparable motivator, Earl Nightingale once said, “If we were really aware of our own powers, we would live in a continuous state of awe.” Over the years I’ve seen many a person stumble before reaching their potential primarily because they sold themselves short. If I could only be like so-and-so…I would be rich…or powerful…or successful…or happy. That someone else that we often want to be can actually be found in every one of us, but the more we turn our jealous eyes toward others in a wishful search for the power of riches, success, and happiness, the harder it becomes to find that true and awesome transformative power that lies within each of us.
There is a wonderful tale that beautifully illustrates this point. It is called The Stone Cutter:
One day while passing a wealthy merchant’s home, an old stone cutter imagined how great it would be to become the merchant and possess his wealth. Suddenly, he found himself magically transformed into that very same merchant. “Now,” he thought, “none are richer than I!”
Several days later as he was proudly sashaying down the main thoroughfare of the city, he noticed several equally prominent merchants bowing down humbly before the king. Seeing this, he immediately began thinking of how much better his life would be if he was the king. Again, he was transformed. “Now,” he thought, “None is more powerful than I!” But soon afterward, as he was standing on the ramparts of his castle addressing his subjects, he found that he had trouble seeing the multitude due the glare caused by the strong rays of the blazing sun. This made him think of how much more powerful he would be if he could be the sun high above all of the world and cloaking its vast lands and waters with heat and sunshine. As had happened before, upon wishing for it, he immediately became the sun. “Now,” he thought, “None is more mighty than I.”
From his high spot in the sky, the man radiated sunlight for all until clouds passed under him and blocked his rays. Realizing that the power within the clouds had overshadowed the might of his sum, he began wishing that he was a cloud. He then became one. But just as fast as he became a cloud, he felt himself moving uncontrollably due to the power of the wind. “I’m not what I thought as a cloud,” he thought, “Surely it is better to be the wind. That is where the true power resides.” Instantly he felt the power of the wind moving through him and thus he began to blow.
And blow he did, tearing down the houses and buildings and pulling up trees from the ground. Then he came upon a large immovable boulder and no matter how hard he blew, he just couldn’t budge it. It was then that he realized that this great rock was surely the strongest, most powerful force in the world. So as all the times before, he found himself dissatisfied with what he was and wished that he could be this great rock. And just as had happened all of the previous times, upon wishing it, he became the rock.
At about this time, he felt a strong hammering, pounding force hitting him and chipping away at his massive bulk. With each strike he felt himself actually breaking up and becoming smaller. “What is this force?” he thought, “What power can shatter the most powerful rock to its core? Surely it must be the source of the greatest of powers! Let me look and wish to be it. And let my wish be granted this one last time.” And, glancing to see the source of such magnificent power, he was overwhelmed to see a stone cutter.
“Everything is within your power, and your power is within you.” – Janice Trachtman
Have a powerful and AWE-full weekend!
William J. “Bill” Bacqué