Penguins, an Epiphany...Perhaps even Two...

I guess I had some type of "epiphany" today...it didn't come out of the blue, really...
I had seen something on television...a guy, an M.D. to be precise, was doing some kind of cross between stand-up-comedy and psychotherapy (I kid you not!). Anyways, it was absolutely BRILLIANT. He said a couple of things that sounded quite banal, yet they made my mind go *click*...

Firstly: It's way more effective to strengthen one's strengths than it is to try working on one's so-called weaknesses.
As banal as this sounds, how many times (per day?) do we actually think 'Ah, I so wish I was more disciplined,' or else: 'Oh, I so wish I wasn't so impulsive.'
How often do we critizise ourselves for being the way we are.
Why fight ourselves? Why not allow ourselves to be - impulsive, chaotic, flawed, less than perfect (but then, who is perfect?). Maybe our impulsiveness is nothing but an expression of our creativity, and perhaps our lack of discipline is paired with the ability to enjoy the good things in life.

Secondly: Instead of trying to change yourself, why not try accommodating the conditions?
So you're incredibly communicative - well, then maybe the desk job as an accountant simply isn't for you. Try to find your own element...[see below!]

Thirdly: Do not compare yourself with others.
How many times do we actually think that we're not as good as the rest, not as good-looking, not as productive, not as slim, not as what-ever...
What we see/perceive of others is just a very small quantum of themselves. It is very likely, that they're just in the same boat.
We only see what they show us. Their doubts, fears are things we hardly hear of.
Besides...why would we want to be like them, like the others? There's plenty of them already...would be a waste, wouldn't it?

That M.D. (Eckhart von Hirschhausen) made a wonderful analogy with a penguin...he said, "I saw a penguin in a zoo once - the penguin was standing on a rock and he really looked pathetic with his short, useless wings, the bloated little body...'poor little creature,' I thought. But then the penguin glided into the water and it was just divine. His odd little body was just perfect for the water and penguins are indeed the most efficient swimmers on the planet. And then it dawned upon me...water is his element - the ELEMENT is the key."

You have to find YOUR element...an environment that matches your personality, conditions that strengthen your capacities.
The bottom line is...don't try so hard to change - to be somebody that you're not - change your environment instead, change the conditions until the fit to YOU!

And one more thing...
Different conditions - a different environment - can show us and our capacities in a whole different light. We're not like this or else like that...we're many things and we have the potential to be completely different in a different context - from zero to hero so to speak.
Don't give up on yourself because you failed once...at a school play, in college. You can be a winner the very next moment - in a different setting - especially when you're being in your element...