Stop thinking about how crazy the times are, and start thinking about what the crazy times demand. – Seth Godin
Innovation starts with personal revolution.
This year I am asking folks way smarter than me to answer one question. Its a simple question:
How are you going to build a better world this year?
These great minds will share with us their thoughts on building a better world both personally and professionally. Their collective wisdom will encompass the practical and the visionary. This is how good is created. My first guest blogger kicks off this series with her unique and beautiful voice. I hope you like it as much as I do.
How am I going to build a better world this year?
By doing my very damndest to tell the truth.
Because here’s the thing: I believe our authenticity, collectively, will save the world. When we tell the truth, we talk about the insanity of the status quo of our world. We talk about what hurts our hearts. We talk about the idealism we still hold on to and that we still want to hold on to.
When we are being ourselves, we share our gifts with the world. We get fear and playing small and insecurities and all the “shoulds” out of the way, and from there, we create some pretty brilliant stuff. Innovative, new, fresh, heartfelt, resonant stuff. Ideas, organizations, movements, campaigns, pieces of art, and perhaps most importantly – gestures of love and healing.
I’ve long believed that, but kind of….theoretically. In my own life, I’ve held back. I’ve quieted my own voice. I’ve thought, “you can’t share that here, or at this time.” I’ve convinced myself I didn’t know enough to speak yet. I’ve let most of my ideas age in my own mind, rather than having the courage to bring them to life. I haven’t seen myself as deserving a real seat at the table. My ego’s desire to blend in and fit in has won out over the things in me that wanted to be said, done, created.
And if anything, I hope that 2011 is the year where I end that. When we all do.
Authenticity, courage, truth. Because the people who we really are will not stand for inhumanity. We just won’t.
Don’t compromise it, hide it, avoid it, water it down, or try to spruce it up. Just tell your truth. Do your real work. Sing your song. That will build a better world.
Tara Sophia Mohr is a writer, coach and personal growth teacher. A blogger for Huffington Post, her work has also been featured in Forbes, USA Today, and More Magazine.com . Visit her blog, Wise Living, or click here to receive her free Goals Guide, Turning Your Goals Upside Down and Inside Out (To Get What You Really Want).