Doesn’t mean that you can’t have the key to some of them.
This is what I needed to hear.
For the longest time, I didn’t think that I had what it took to be able to help people.
“Who am I to give people advice? I have issues of my own that I haven’t figured out yet. Why should anyone listen to me?”
These are the things I used to say to myself when I would think about starting a blog. I always wanted to try it, but every time I would talk myself out of it. I wanted to write about motivation and self-improvement, but I didn’t feel qualified.
I don’t know why I held myself to such unreasonably high standards. I don’t know what I thought it mattered so much or why I took it so seriously. But I did. And since I didn’t have any good answers to my own questions, at some point I lost faith in myself. I stopped believing that I could help. I listened to the inner critic because I couldn’t help but agree.
Who was I to try to help people?
What I needed to hear
Then one day, I came across a quote.
“Just because you don’t have the key to all of life’s problems doesn’t mean that you can’t have the key to some of them.”
-Unknown
I have no idea who said it or where it’s from, but this idea changed my life.
I had an epiphany and something clicked. My whole perspective started to change.
I finally started to understand. I was acting as if I needed to have all of the answers to be able to answer any single question. That if I couldn’t help everyone that I couldn’t help anyone.
But that’s wrong. That’s not how it works and I understand that now.
It may sound strange, but before this epiphany, I just didn’t quite understand the problem. I didn’t quite know what to do. And I wasn’t able to connect the dots. But in hindsight, it’s clear.
“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” -Buddha
Help is help
I realized that I could help. I’ll start small, but I have experiences to draw from and a desire to help.
And there are many different ways to help. Not everything is life or death. I was taking things too seriously. I thought that if I couldn’t help someone completely turn their life around, then I just wasn’t good enough.
Sure, I’m no world-renowned expert in my field and certainly too old to be any sort of prodigy at this point, but that’s okay.
I do have a lot of things working in my favor. I’m committed to improvement. I’ve dealt with and managed my way through my fair share of issues. I’ve been working on and researching self-development for years. I have a genuine desire to help people and to do my part in making the world a better place. I’m curious and interested in many different fields and disciplines.
I’m not going to pretend that I have all the answers. Not even close. None of us do. But I know that I can help people. I know others are going through similar issues or dealing with similar struggles. My hope is that by sharing my stories and perspective, I can provide them with some insights.
I always wanted to help people and writing has been a gateway. I write about things that I think could help people. But I also read a lot of other people’s blogs. I like their posts. Sometimes I leave comments. I know it’s not much, but I gotta start somewhere.
Am I changing the world by liking posts or leaving comments? Seems unlikely. But I use the same logic as my writing. Most of them probably go unnoticed. But every once in a while, hopefully, one of my comments brightens someone’s day or gives them the motivation to keep going.
I may not have the answer to all of life’s problems, but I won’t let that stop me from doing what I can to help people.
Is there something that you’ve been waiting to try? Maybe you’re not sure if you’re qualified or good enough? You’ll never know if you never try!
Leave a comment down below, I’d love to hear from you!
If you enjoyed this article, please consider following, liking, or checking out my other articles at http://www.mindpowergrow.com
Until next time,
Evan
Mind Power Grow 
I’ve had the same thoughts myself. Thanks for reminding me that you don’t have to know everything to help one person. And, for the record, your comment on one of my earliest posts both brightened my day and gave me the motivation to keep writing. So, thank you for that as well!
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Hey Gritgirl!
You’re very welcome. It makes me happy to know that I’ve had a positive impact on someone and that my strategy is working! 🙂 So thank you too.
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This is so good Evan! Very nicely penned down….I wish that we can collaborate our blogs some day:)
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Hi Pooja!
Thank you very much! Let me know if you have any future ideas! 😉
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Thanks for sharing Evan. Appreciate this perspective which is empowering and encouraging. “If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain”, says the words of a touching gospel song which aligns to your desire to be of help. That’s significant! Blessings.
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Hi dmarierowe!
You’re welcome. I have to admit, I’m not familiar with the song, but I can certainly appreciate the sentiment! Just trying to make a positive impact one person at a time 🙂
Thank you for the encouraging words.
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I appreciate your post and your mission. More people should strive to help like you.
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Hi twoceltickittens!
Thank you for that. I appreciate the kind words! 🙂
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You can’t succeed or fail if you don’t try…
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Then it follows that trying is the most important thing of all! 🙂
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Thank you for sharing this post. It’s exactly what I needed to read last night. I’ve struggled for a while to even create this blog, worried that my education isn’t enough, my experiences aren’t enough, my words won’t matter to anyone. But I know that isn’t true, and I am committed to continually sharing myself, my thoughts and insight with the world, however small my reach may be. You were actually the first person to ever comment on my blog when I started it a few months ago! 🙂
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Hi Lunasysims!
You’re welcome. It’s always nice when someone understands where I’m coming from! Something I need to be better about (and want to write about) is not taking things quite so seriously.
I’m glad that my comment left an impression! 🙂 I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.
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Thanks! 🙂 I agree. We just have to put ourselves out there. It’s the only way we can grow and achieve. You never know who your words will affect, and the worst thing we can do is keep them hidden away because we’re afraid we’re not enough. I’ll be looking forward to the future post!
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Very tender, Evan. 🙂 I’ve had a similar leap in perspective (a spiritual awakening, I call it, magical powers and all. Ha ha ha. Amazing. ☺️) And anyway, post this shift for me…there was just a sudden pull to help people find peace. My main epiphany was that we each have a piece of the puzzle but are often too scared of others opinions or scared to follow our dreams in order to become the only puzzle piece that will fit into the unique place reserved for us in the puzzle of life.
I gathered from the epiphany that our aim is to become that puzzle piece (which is unique to any other) and fit into place in order to make the earth whole, and as it’s meant to be. If we’re all stuck in places that don’t follow our natural passions, the theory would be that we wouldn’t be able to slot into our correct puzzle slot to complete the puzzle because we’d keep misaligning. Pretty out there, I know. 😂 It makes an awful lot of sense,though. If this theory is correct, you can’t go wrong with any thing you do as long as your doing it from exactly who you authentically are. You’ll slot right into the puzzle pieces you were meant to slot right into- twisting those keys you’ve already found and helping others slot into their own place. Good on you for searching for answers. How exciting and fulfilling. ☺️Life is an adventure, and so beautiful, really. Much better to live it all the way through, hey. ☺️
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Hi Brooke! 😀
I really like the puzzle piece metaphor for thinking about life and how we fit in. It really reminds me of: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken” – Oscar Wilde
I really do believe and agree with what you’re saying. Everyone is different and we all have unique skillsets and blindspots. All too often we’re all chasing the same thing instead of embracing our authentic self and forging our own path. Which, in fairness, I understand. It’s scary doing your own thing and breaking away from the traditional path – and I don’t think that the more traditional path fosters authenticity.
Everything in life is a tradeoff. Higher risk, higher reward! It’s always nice hearing from you and I appreciate you sharing your thoughts 🙂
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Oh goodness! I adore that quote from Oscar Wilde. It’s made me smile, absolutely. 🙂 And you’ve clearly fallen out of the exact same tree as I have: I was only just discussing ‘blindspots’ with my family the other day. 🙂 It’s a pleasure to have found your wonderful world of wisdom on here, Evan! Keep shining. 🙂 x
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Me too! And yea, funny how that works, eh? Sometimes I can’t help but feel like the universe is trying to point to something! 🙂 And thank you as always for your kind words.
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Ha ha ha. Yep! I have a saying that I will always stand by, one hundred percent: ‘There are no accidents in the universe.’ 🙂
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This is quite the insightful and powerful blog post. I follow a path of Buddhism and the candle quote by the Buddha is such an amazingly short and sweet depiction of what happiness is and can be. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insight and thank you for braving the unknown in an effort to help others. Namaste ❤
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Hey there! That quote is one of my favorites 🙂 You’re welcome and thank you for reading and commenting! Have a wonderful day. 🙂
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I have been on a similar line of thoughts and after a long period of procrastination I finally started the blog, but for me, that was like the beginning, even today before I write, the first thought on my mind is, how is it going to affect the person reading it and if I could write what I think and do I qualify to give any advice any comment upon so many things when everything in my own life is not right as of now. I have this constant feeling of incompetence even when I am aware that whatever that I am thinking or writing is not really incorrect or wrong. I will make the quote my Screen Saver and I will try to remember having an answer to every question is not necessary. Thank you for sharing this insightful experience.
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Hey Tasneem! You’re welcome.
It’s always nice to know that someone else understands. It can be tough and I still feel like an impostor, but that’s okay. I acknowledge it, deal with it as best I can, and move on!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. 🙂
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Liking someone’s blog certainly motivates…it simply means the effort is noticed and appreciated. 🙂
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I completely agree, Gemma!
On that note, thank you for the like! 😀
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