Are You Playing Small In A World Where We Are Being Called To Play Big?
Whether you are an employee, a business owner, a manager, C-suite executive, or a domestic engineer, this applies to all who are living and breathing on Earth today. That is correct! Each one of us is responsible in our own ways to take a deep hard look within ourselves and ask, “Am I playing small or am I playing big?”
What does this truly mean? Well, for starters, it is my understanding that one of our deepest purposes in life is to “know” and experience true inner happiness. Yes, this means “doing” what we love and loving what we “do” as well as finding contentment within ourselves for just “being” ourselves. After all, we are called human beings and not human doings.
Secondly, on this playing field that we call life, we all can make choices about how it is that we show up in the world – whether at home, socially or at work. Many may believe (well, truly misbelieve) that they don’t have choices about their happiness or how or what they do while here on Earth. This is far, far from the truth. It may not seem easy, but it is true. Happiness is a choice. How we show up in the world is a choice.
So, are you showing up and playing small? For example, let’s say you have an ingenious idea at work. Again, your position at work is irrelevant for this part of the conversation, and frankly, altogether. Perhaps you have felt that your idea could save the company money or could grow the company’s revenues, or create greater job retention, or serve more people in the world positively.
All this may sound brilliant and important enough to be voiced but you would be surprised how many of these ideas amount to nothing because they were never shared. Why?
FEAR! Fear of sounding like a fool. Fear of what other’s will think of you. Fear of being rejected. Fear of not having a voice. Fear of your voice not being heard. Fear of shame. Fear of not being respected. Fear that others are more important than you. Fear of not being valued. Fear of losing your job. Fear! The list could go on, but ultimately, so many at every level fear something that can often keep them playing small.
Playing small runs huge risks. For one, we shut down our creative, inspiration centers which we have been innately wired to access. This generally leads to shutting down of our heart spaces when our “creative ideas” are blocked or dismissed.
This in turn leads to lack of inner joy and purpose which leads to burnout in and out of work. Often, if this becomes a habit, even mental or physical ails show up in our lives because we are living limited rather than expansive. This in itself is already dismal.
Add to this how it could be limiting the success of a company and its growth potential. Further, consider how many people may not ever benefit from your creative idea because you played small due to your fears. Perhaps tens, hundreds, thousands and even millions in the world would have missed out on a gift that you kept inside yourself.
Do yourself, your company, and the world a huge favour by having the courage to play BIG! Allow your innate creative ingenious to be heard, share it with others. Take it to the next level with your leadership team.
Speak it into existence. Have the courage to express yourself. There is no better time than now as the world is in desperate need of creative inspiration in more ways than we may even understand.
