Are You Doing What You Were Meant to Do?

“He didn’t know how well he sang; he only heard the flaws…”

This phrase is from a song by the late singer/songwriter Harry Chapin. In the ballad titled, "Mister Tanner"**, a man who runs a dry-cleaning shop and loves to sing is urged by his customers to do a concert and display his great gift.

“His friends and neighbors praised the voice that poured out from his throat. They said that he should use his gift instead of cleaning coats.”**

The cleaner takes the risk, hires an agent, and schedules an event. The critics wrote the next day that although he had a nice voice, he lacked range and experience. Instead of working and improving and trying again, the cleaner returns to his shop, and as Harry sings it, “…he never sang again, excepting very late at night when the shop was dark and closed. He sang softly to himself as he sorted through the clothes.”**

Using Gifts

In the chorus of the song, Harry reminds us that the cleaner sang because:

“Music was his life, it was not his livelihood, and it made him feel so happy, and it made him feel so good. And he sang from his heart, and he sang from his soul. He did not know how well he sang; it just made him whole.”**

This song has always spoken to me. I saw Mr. Chapin perform it live and I bought the guitar music so I could play it at home. It reminds me of the challenges many of us face when it comes to doing the things that “make us whole.”

Finding Truth - Being Whole

Here are a few truths I need to be constantly reminding myself that lead to being whole. Maybe you could use a reminder as well.

1. You have a gift. You have something to share.

2. You have what it takes. Believe in yourself.

3. Don’t allow others to steal the joy you feel when living in your gifting.

4. Don’t allow the fear of failure or fear of criticism keep you from trying.

5. Invest in yourself and your gift. Practice, Prepare. Perform.

6. Encourage others to live in their gifting. Never steal someone’s joy.

I used to sing and play the guitar in church on a regular basis. I stopped one day, and I have never gone back to it. I let my perception of what others thought of me singing silence my singing.

I had a dream to write a book. I almost didn’t do it (even after signing a contract with a major publisher) because I was afraid that it would reveal my inability to write. Then I remembered why I no longer sing, and it made me sad. I heard an author once talking about re-reading his first book and thinking about how terrible it was. He commented that he was glad he didn’t quit because if he did, the world never would have seen his improvement as a writer. I decided to take a risk and exhibit my writing. I have continued to write and speak. It is my gift, and I get great joy from it.

Mindset: Fixed or Growth?

There are very few “naturals” in your area of expertise. Almost every single person that is excelling in your space is doing it after failing, learning, and trying again. A fixed mindset person won’t take the risk of failing and revealing their shortcomings. A growth mindset person will take the risk knowing that even if they come up short, they will learn and grow closer to the goal in the experience.

Don’t let anyone steal your joy. Do what you were made to do.

** From the song, Mr. Tanner, words and music by Harry Chapin. ©1973 & 1976 Story Songs LTD.