by A. M. Gilbert

Created on: July 13, 2010   Last Updated: July 23, 2010

Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What’s a sun-dial in the shade?”. With these words, Franklin speaks to a multitude of people who are, quite frankly, afraid of success. These brilliant thinkers, talented musicians, gifted artists, etc., all share a common trait: no matter how exceptional they are, they cannot deal with the prospect of achieving their full potentials. I find this an incredibly dispiriting state of affairs, to know that someone with extraordinary ability devalues themselves.

I probably feel that way because I am one of those people. My self-esteem often escapes me, and returns only when someone else reinforces it for me. Though I may superficially know myself as an intellectually able human being, I do not believe that I can do any of the things that I aspire to do. My well-deserved accolades fail to console me when I decide that I am a terrible speaker, a lacking wit, and, in general, a complete idiot. Instead of affirming my faith in myself, I choose to wait until a virtual stranger hands me a lifeless sheet of paper or block of wood telling me that I do, in fact, possess some modicum of skill. Ergo, this quote truly speaks to me.

Franklin inquires, “What's a sun-dial in the shade?" Indeed, what is that brilliant thinker who fears the chance to express their innermost ideas? What is that talented musician who eschews opportunity after opportunity to showcase said talent? What is that gifted artist who resists the natural urge to share his or her life's work due to the fear of rejection by the masses?

To utilize another of his quotations, “Who is that? Nobody.” Yet I firmly believe that no person should ever feel alone or devalued. So what is there to do when those overwhelmingly negative feelings are caused by oneself? I believe that to be the real issue with those who avoid truly revealing themselves. Many of us are naturally inclined to see ourselves as not good enough at whatever we do. Though certain things make us happy, we always have that gnawing feeling of self-dissatisfaction eroding any semblance of self-esteem. Franklin says that “applause waits on success.” However, for some people, perceived success waits on applause. The only remedy for this would be to reinstate faith in one's own abilities, a task that surely cannot be undertaken alone by someone who does not believe that the aforementioned abilities even exist. So what option remains? Must we all step outside of our comfort zones and ask for help with dealing with our most private problems?

Uncomfortable as the thought may seem, yes. Again quoting Franklin, “Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.” We do not choose real friends without reason. We desire to associate with those that can help us, whether that aid be superficial or profound. Thus we see the solution to our problems; as a race we must restore faith in others, and allow them to help us, so that we may help ourselves. Only through honest communication can those of us who struggle with a deep unwillingness to show our true selves be made comfortable with our own identities, and bestow upon a waiting world the unique gifts that we as a society of individuals possess.

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