Why do people become unable to demonstrate their abilities? #129

When asked what ability is, I think many people think of talent, skills, or knowledge.
However, I believe that is not what is truly important.

No matter how rare a talent, excellent a skill, or abundant a knowledge one may have, it is meaningless if it is not utilized to produce results.

Nevertheless, there are many people who cannot demonstrate the abilities they should possess.
In the first place, why do people become unable to demonstrate the abilities they should possess?

I feel that this question is closer to reality.

■ The rabbit was fast, yet it lost

Everyone knows the story of "The Tortoise and the Hare."

The rabbit, which should have been overwhelmingly fast, loses to the tortoise, which can only move slowly—

The reason is simple.
The rabbit was overconfident in its speed and fell asleep.
The tortoise accepted its slowness and kept walking.

What is happening here is not a difference in the abilities possessed.
I think it is about how one humbly faces their abilities.

■ The problem is not "lacking ability"

The same thing is happening in reality.
People who should be able to do something are not succeeding.
Conversely, people who do not have special talents are achieving results.

Where does this difference come from?

In many cases, it is not the ability itself, but rather one of these two things:
• Overconfidence in oneself
• Conversely, underestimating oneself

What is particularly troublesome is comparison with others or with ideals.
• That person is doing more
• I am still not enough
• This level is not good enough
In this way, before you know it, your standard for evaluation becomes others or the pursuit of perfection against an ideal.
Then, you will surely begin to suffer from the gap with your actual self.

Eventually, you begin to use your energy to blame your "incompetent self".

I believe this perfectionism is a major cause of being unable to demonstrate one's abilities.
People with a high desire for growth are the ones who fall into this trap.
• I should be able to do more.
• I am still not enough.
• It is meaningless unless it is perfect.
At first glance, this seems positive, but in reality, it is the opposite.

The more you seek perfection, the more the "reality of not being able to do it" is emphasized.

As a result:
• You become unable to act
• You cannot keep going
• You lose confidence
And finally, you fall into despair and stop.

■ Being positive means not looking away from reality

What is easily misunderstood here is "positive."
Being positive does not mean telling yourself "it's okay."
Nor does it mean ignoring what you are not doing.

I think it means accepting reality as it is and choosing the next step.

✅ The rabbit knew it was fast.
But it relied on that.

✅ The tortoise knew it was slow.
Even so, it did not stop.

The difference is not ability, but "how one handles reality".

The story of "The Tortoise and the Hare" has a sequel called "The Losing Rabbit."
The rabbit that lost to the tortoise is abandoned by its friends and driven out of the village.
However, it later uses its wisdom to save the village and regain trust.

What is important here is that one failure does not mean losing your ability.

The time you lose your ability must be when you have given up, saying "I am no good anymore."

■ To avoid losing sight of yourself

Konosuke Matsushita, known as the god of management, left behind the message
"Observe yourself calmly from the outside, as if you were dealing with another person."
and the term "self-reflection" from this message.

Observing yourself as if you were someone else.
Instead of being swallowed by emotions,
take a step back and look at yourself.
• What should I do?
• What is my current state?
• What can I do, and what can I not do?
• What should I do next?
People who can grasp themselves calmly should be able to act toward the next step without hesitation, even when taking on a challenge or if they happen to fail.

■ Ability is a "state of being able to demonstrate it"

In the end, what is ability?

It is not the skill itself, but
"the state of being able to continue demonstrating it" I think.

And that state is maintained by the accumulation of:
• Not comparing yourself too much with others
• Not seeking perfection too much
• Not looking away from reality
I believe it is maintained by this accumulation.

Like the tortoise, do not stop your progress.
Like the rabbit, get back up even if you fail.
And above all, do what you should do, and see yourself correctly.

People do not stop because they lack ability.
They stop when they have the wrong way of facing themselves.

That is why what is needed, more than increasing ability, is
to continue being someone who can demonstrate their ability in order to finish what needs to be done.