You Are So Talented

"You are so talented."

I've heard this my whole life. From family, from friends, from teachers. It's supposed to be encouraging. And when you're young and in a small town, it is. You feel like you're destined for something.

But what nobody tells you, or understands, is that phrase can become a weight.

Because when you have "so much talent" and you haven't "done anything with it yet," every year that passes feels heavier. Every unfinished project feels like proof that the talent was a lie. Or worse—that you squandered it.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Why do I hold back? Why do I start things and not finish them? Why do I hide my work?

I think the simple and honest answer is fear. And most-likely, fear of rejection. Because as you grow up and move away from your small town, you start to see how talent can be relative, and it's not something you can just rely on.

So the "talent" feels like it just sits there, or feels smaller, or it's not "realized" yet.

I don't know exactly how to change that yet, but I know the first step is facing it.

If you've ever felt this way, like you're sitting on potential you can't seem to unlock, you're not alone. Maybe that's worth something.