Skills: What If You Wish You Can?

“A tree will drive its roots as deep as possible. It will soak up as much nourishment as it can, stretch as high and as wide as nature will allow, and then look down as if to remind us of how much each of us could become if we would only do all that we can.” – Jim Rohn in his book Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle

Many times, I admire people so good at what they do and somehow I wish that I can surf or sing or paint or play the piano or write even just half as well. What if you wish you can? Just as Napoleon Hill had expressed in his book Think and Grow Rich, a mere wish is not enough to achieve. You need to dream, you need to desire. Dreams are free but their fulfillment is not. If you are willing to pay the price, you can develop the skill that you desire to have. Age and life path are irrelevant in acquiring a new skill. It is never too late or too vain or too silly or too pompous to acquire a new skill.

A skill is a learned ability. You need to invest time and energy to acquire one. More importantly, you need to have faith in yourself that you have what it takes to acquire one. Being good at something requires a number of related skills. If you desire to become a good photographer, for instance, you need to be thoroughly knowledgeable of the various skills that a good photographer requires. As you become aware of these skills, you can develop mastery in as many skills as you can. From the blend of these related skills, you can do that something that you desire in a manner that is uniquely you. Curiosity combined with imagination and creativity can bring out in you your signature style or technique.

Before becoming good at anything, allow yourself to make a lot of mistakes. Permit yourself to be a novice for a reasonable amount of time. Refrain from abusing yourself by comparing your work with experts or professionals too early. Don't hurry. Instead, go gently and slowly. Expect yourself to make progress, not to be perfect. Oftentimes, you need to become your worst before you can become your best.

When you feel that you are not making any progress, that is your cue to push yourself harder, not to lessen your effort or give up. The difficulties you encounter must strengthen your commitment to learning the skill that you desire to have. If you really want to learn this skill, you will surely find a way to seek solutions to the problems that you face. The more challenges you are able to conquer, the more confident you become in the mastery of your skills.

If you don't make any progress at all after a reasonable amount of time, it is either something is wrong with your goals and plans of action, or you don't really believe in your abilities to be able to learn the skill that you desire. If it is the first, then you need to rethink your goals and plans of action and craft another that will work for you. If it is the second, then know that hard work is necessary in developing a skill but it can not make up for lack or absence of faith in oneself.