Written by Eugene Wallace

“The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there, I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.” ― Michelangelo

Every person is an incredible masterpiece waiting to be discovered. Michelangelo was asked how he created the statue of David from a chunk of marble, and he answered: “I didn't, he was already in there. I just chipped away everything that wasn't David.”

He would work to “discover the image in the stone”. Our lives, with the challenges and success, highs and lows, the good, the bad and the ugly, offer us an opportunity to reveal the image of who we are, why we are and how we can leverage our obstacles and opportunities to be and become our highest and best selves and impact the world around us. 

I have to confess a personal bias: I believe every human being is born for a specific purpose and that our lives offer us a wonderful opportunity to discover and live out that purpose. Defeats can chip away unnecessary parts of our personality.  Disabilities of some of our capabilities can stimulate us to excel in the use of other potentialities to a more enhanced degree. Trauma can stir us to triumph. Disagreements can challenge our perspectives and open us to new ways of thinking. Difficulties can provoke us to reach deeper into our inner and unexplored strengths. Amidst the daily ebb and flow of life, we are called to be active sculptors in discovering the person we are meant to be.

Born into chaos, trauma and brokenness, I could have chosen a victim perspective. By and large, I chose to lean into life and use business endeavors to numb the pain of neglect and abuse as I pressed forward into life's adventure. Not being clear on that to which I was being drawn, pulled, or called, I responded to a whisper to “excel”, to reach beyond. Far from being excellent, I do strive towards excellence, and that with a stumbling step. What is it that draws you to discover the masterpiece of who you are?  

"The great artist is the simplifier."― Vincent van Gogh

Striving to reveal the unique wonder of who you are is simple: it is just not easy. Finding out the purpose for which you were born—that is to say, what is your ‘why’—comes down to working to discover that which is essential and already there and eliminating that which is superfluous: that which is unnecessary. This is not for the faint of heart and is difficult. Living an abundant life is hard and is absolutely worth it. Challenges can be painful and discouraging. Taking the time to invest the energy into discovering your purpose is worth it.  What are you willing to do to reveal the masterpiece of who you are?