The Nature of Talent
tal·ent
noun
natural aptitude or skill
If they believe you have no talent you will be discouraged from the pursuit of it. If you believe you have no talent you will be discouraged from the pursuit of it. You will brood over the dim prospect of being talentless. Of not possessing an elusive something, a natural gift. The something that allows so many to do great things. To express themselves, in beautiful breathtaking ways. To make many, jump with excitement, and many seethe with envy. You long to be able to expose your deepest joys, loves, and even fears in a way that urges others to feel as you do. Maybe, you simply desire to make a good wage. Or you wish to make your family proud. But you can't. You can't go to this university, you can't get this job because you are inadequate. You want to be appreciated for your ideas, but you can't because you lack the talent needed to express them. Generally, during one's childhood, they are told that they can be anything they want to be. They can be a heroic firefighter or a benign princess. But when one grows older the cynical nature of society is revealed. They say you should lower your expectations, that you should think smaller. Maybe consider a more realistic career path. Even if you do work hard you won't be able to do it because you're not skinny enough, you're not smart enough, you're not talented enough, you're not enough. And so the cycle of discontent is perpetuated by the bitter. But what if they're wrong? What if the quality that actually leads to success is bravery. The bravery to have confidence in yourself even if no one else does. The bravery to pursue your dreams with unbridled enthusiasm, and fervor. The bravery to break out of the cycle of discontent and pursue your own version of happiness.