🌱 Never forget that you are one of a kind. Never forget that if there weren't any need for you in all your uniqueness to be on this earth, you wouldn't be here in the first place.
R. Buckminster Fuller
Audio narration by David Marlow
Definition.
A sockdolager: (n)
sock·dol·ag·er /säkˈdôlijər/
1: An exceptional person or thing.
I love to discover new words. Especially ones that add richness to our conversations. This one has a double impact; it adds richness and is about richness in people who enrich our lives.
Risk
Without a clear sense of purpose and a recognition of our uniqueness as the exceptional creations we are, we risk leading a life unfulfilled, devoid of meaning and purpose.
Failing to uncover your unique qualities leaves you vulnerable to suppressing your true self in favor of fitting in.
Life on autopilot becomes the norm, lacking the excitement and passion that embracing your exceptional self can bring.
By abandoning your exceptional nature, you remain held in the suffocating grip of conformity and mediocrity, your true self never fully emerging.
Opportunity🌀
The further we travel our Ikigai journey, the more a sockdolager we become because a person living their completely authentic self is exceptional.
As we delve deeper into self-discovery and align ourselves with our purpose, the impediments of misaligned shoulds and have tos begin to crumble.
By embracing being a unique creation, we unlock the door to our extraordinary potential, and our inner sockdolager shines brightly for the world to see.
As we embody our true essence, the mundane aspects of life fade away, replaced by a sense of wonder and excitement for each new day.
Our enthusiasm and passion become contagious, inspiring others to seek their own paths of authenticity and fulfillment.
Embracing our uniqueness grants us the courage to step outside our comfort zones, take risks, and seize opportunities that align with our purpose.
Story
Even as a kid, it was obvious I had some unique qualities. Being left-handed right away sets you apart. Only 10% of people in the world are left-handed and I have green eyes which is only 2%.
It took me a lot longer to realize the less superficially obvious elements of my sockdolagerness.
When I first left the corporate world I balked at the idea of coaching. There were and are a million ‘life’ coaches in the world.
I started with a question…
What exceptional thing could I bring to coaching?
I began to break down my skills, experiences, talents and background. I came to realize that there were unique aspects to ‘purpose’ I could bring to coaching and consulting.
For example, I’m not the first to talk about Ikigai and I’m certainly not the most talented writer.
I am, however, the first to explain how Essence, Purpose, and Harmony work individually and together to cultivate a complete understanding of Ikigai.
And maybe more importantly, I am the first person to come at these topics from the perspective of someone who has spent decades studying personal transformation.
I actually know how people can uncover their purpose AND the best ways to help them live it out.
There is no other person in the world who brings that to the table.
You might say it is exceptional!
Application.
“Eventually, you need to start being you, and then– you need to get really good at it.” Artist Hugh Macleod
It is incredibly hard to be the best anything in the world.
Despite my story example being a sockdolager is not about being the best coach in the world.
It’s about being the best YOU in the world.
It’s about recognizing your unique qualities and living them to the fullest to offer the world what only you can bring.
It’s about celebrating “that if there weren't any need for you in all your uniqueness to be on this earth, you wouldn't be here in the first place.”
Eventually, you need to start being the real you, at your deepest essence and getting really good at it.
Sometimes that will be expressed in a career and other times being a friend and still other times at simply being.
It is also about looking for the exceptional in this life and in others.
🌀Reflection.
🌱 How does seeing the exceptional in the world enrich your life?
🌱 How would seeing yourself as an exceptional work of creation change your view?
🌱 How might you bring those unique perspectives, skills, talents, or combinations in service to those around you? To the world?
🌱 What excites you right now?
🌱 What are you looking forward to now or in the future?
🌀 Remember: No matter what has come before, today is a fresh start. 🌱
Let’s make things a little bit better. 🌱
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The word sockdolager is a bit strange but good concepts of being unique in certain ways and exceptional in the ways as well that is uniquely YOU. Ikigai is a fine lifetime goal yet moreover is to ask....Then What? in other words what can one do with the achievement of fulfillment in being the best self. Helping others is surely an admirable mission and for many also having an intimate relationship with God. Now that is a great quest ;)
What a brilliant and beautiful thought, David, and you express it so well (of course). If you are ok for me to do so, I’d like to signpost this piece in my blog tomorrow. PS is the top image Dunstanburgh Castle on the Northumbria coast?