Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
– John Wooden
Meaning of this quote:
We are all different and unique in our own way. No one in this world is perfect, everyone has their own flaws, and this uniqueness makes us who we are.
Imagining that everyone would have no flaws and everyone would have the same qualities, how would we ever be able to develop our own identity?
The wisdom is to realize that everyone has one or more great quality which makes them different from the rest, everyone has their own unique expertise, and no one can do all things at least at once. In the end, everyone has to select something which they always look up to and have to pursue that.
Never try to fit into someone else’s shoes or follow someone else’s path blindly. Never let what you cannot do stop you from doing something you can do with ease and great precision. Find out what makes you unique and fulfilled, do what fits you well, and try to pursue it, if it is something that is feasible enough and makes sense to you.
Always believe in taking the calculated steps. Be driven by strong reasoning and real numbers, because numbers never lie. Nothing can shake up your great vision when It’s backed by strong planning, reasoning, and determination.
Strive to be the best version of yourself
Don’t lose your identity. Don’t lose your self-worth. Everyone is good at something, so are you. Don’t compare yourself with others, instead focus on what you can do best for yourself and for society in general.
What if Photoshop compares itself to Premiere Pro and feels disappointed and decides to give up his photo manipulation abilities just because he can’t edit videos with as many features as Premiere Pro. An analogy like this illustrates how we give up our own expertise just because we can’t perform certain tasks.
Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.
– Aristotle
In another example, what if a great swimmer compares himself or herself to a great runner or vice versa. Wouldn’t it be absurd to compare the two when both are talented or experts in their respective fields?
There is one great quote which often attributed to Albert Einstein, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
Every individual has their own unique talent, and their own unique strengths and weaknesses. It’s quite unreal to compare themselves with others using the same metrics. It takes everyone’s unique expertise, talent, and skills to create or run things.
Let nothing interfere with what you can do
As an individual everyone should be free to choose and explore something which they truly love to do. When one pursues their own interest, this is where one forms their core strengths and expertise.
However, don’t follow something just because everyone is doing it. Nowadays, passion has become glamorous. Everyone is claiming to be following their passion. Always remember to evaluate your ideas through some sort of reasoning.
Just don’t follow something because your XYZ is also doing that. Being realistic and practical is the first step that it takes before you start to do any further.
Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.
– Joshua J. Marin
Making mistakes is a sign that you are trying to do something that you aren’t used to. Don’t let making mistakes or being afraid of failure keep you from doing or starting something which is closer to your heart.
Life is interesting when we face challenges, and it is fulfilling when we conquer them. If life were without challenges, or if everyone had the same strengths or talents and nothing could really differentiate us, wouldn’t that sound both scary and boring at the same time?
The world needs people who can bring their own strengths and skills to make it a better place. Don’t dilute your own strengths by striving for something which isn’t in your reach. There is nothing wrong with learning new skills, but it will be wrong to compare yourself with others just based on what they can do and what you can’t.
The true wisdom is to accept the fact that the grass will always look greener on the other side. That’s the human tendency of not appreciating what you’ve and instead to strive for something which your nearest or dearest have.
Never lose your strengths or skills in exchange for hoping for something which you don’t own. Indeed there is nothing wrong with taking inspiration from others to level up your career, but, It’s certainly wrong to give up on what you can do in exchange for what you can’t.
Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas.
– Marie Curie