Are you a teacher avoiding the spot-LIGHT?

Whether you are a professional teacher or not; whether you are aware of it or not, you may be here on Earth to be a teacher to others. Some people have a sense that they are meant to “teach” but retract from that light shining on them because it feels much too risky. Claiming you know “something” and standing up and getting noticed does leave you more vulnerable to:

Criticism

 Judgement

Rejection

and

Abandonment

And NOBODY likes that!

Most of us are actually teachers in some form, be it to teach our children, or to show others how to accomplish different tasks in our jobs. But some of us have a life purpose that focuses on teaching, extending the light to others by passing on our wisdom in some broad-reaching way.

I had a mentor once. I guess he is still a mentor because I am compelled to share with you now what he once said to me.

My teacher taught thousands of other herbalists, passing on his wisdom so they could also be great healers. He has given a tremendous gift to the world. But he was also a little gruff and pretty unfiltered in his approach. He said exactly what he thought! Because of this, he upset some of his students. Some felt belittled, threatened, and displaced in the program because of his unbridled self-expression.

I got the opportunity to talk to my teacher about this once. I shared with him what others were experiencing and offered some “suggestions” for how he could improve his relationships with those students.

What he told me, I haven't forgotten. He said that to be successful you have to put your WHOLE self out there. He said that it can be hard to do, that you have to tolerate criticism, and some people rejecting you altogether. “Not everyone is going to like you”, he said. “That’s a given. But, if you don’t step fully into what you love, what you are meant to do, you can’t be very successful.” This struck me, especially since I am a pretty quiet person. I don’t like to take up too much space. And, I REALLY don’t like to have the spotlight on me, AT ALL. 

But he was right! We do have to be brave and step forward in what we are called to do.

Remember too, that when you do take each step toward the spotlight, that the scared part of you (the one we all have that’s afraid of criticism and rejection) will sound off alarms that sound something like this:

 You’ll be judged.

 They won’t like you.

 You’ll mess up.

 You’re not an expert. 

You’ll embarrass yourself!

I’m sure you have heard alarms like these going off inside your head whenever you think of taking an important step towards you true purpose, what you are meant be passing along to those who need your wisdom.

But to avoid it altogether is never a good choice. It can lead to feelings of depression, hopelessness, stuck-ness...and physical symptoms, like tight neck and shoulders, fatigue, digestive upset, and countless others.

Here’s a quote from Dan Millman’s book, The Life You Where Born to Lead, that can lend some ease to your process, something to say back to the alarming voice when the circuit gets tripped:

"Imagine a lone sage walking down a dark road just before dawn, holding a lantern, as a light for others to follow.

Such sages, lighting the way for others, can only lead where they are willing to travel. 

If they fall off the path, so will those who follow. 

If you were such a sage, could you lead by your example?

Could you inspire others with your integrity?"

If this blog has sparked something in you and you want to learn a little bit more about your own unique life purpose, then take this quiz now and find out: Which Essence Role Are You?

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