"I once read of a man who went into kindergarten class and asked how many of the kids could sing - every hand shot up immediately. How many could dance? Same response. How many could paint? Again, all hands shot up eagerly. He went into a college classroom and asked the same questions. Did he get the same response? No. No hands went up. What happens in those years between five and eighteen to our sense of joy and possibility and personal command of the Universe? We learn to mask ourselves, our surprise and our glee, our sense of self-worth and self-loathing: Don't say you can paint, because someone else might paint better than you do and people will judge. Don't say you can sing, because you're no Johnny Cash. Don't say you can write if you're not on the New York Times best seller list," (Patti Digh - Life is a Verb).
It wasn't too long ago that I was one of those college students in Digh's story. I wouldn't have raised my hand to say that I could sing because I wasn't an American Idol star. I wouldn't have raised my hand to say that I could dance because I wasn't a So You Think You Can Dance? star. I wouldn't have raised my hand to say that I could paint because I didn't have any work on exhibit some place. I knew there were people in the Universe who could do better than me, so I would have kept my hand down low where it wouldn't be seen.
After reading Digh's book, I would now hold my hand up high. Yes, I can sing. Yes, I can dance. Yes, I can paint. Yes, Yes, Yes! As long as I have fun and believe in myself, I can do anything...really, I can! Can I hit the golf ball over the lake...yes, I can! Maybe not right away, but I'll get it and if I say the opposite (no, I can't), then I never will.
I think I would have kept my hand down when asked if I could do something, because I would have thought that someone would have judged me. I would have thought that people would think I was conceded. I would have thought that people would think I was naive.
Today, I won't keep my hand down if someone asks me if I can do something. I'll hold my hand up high. Gone are my fears of people judging my abilities. I believe in me; no mask needed.
