I’m not special. In fact, I’m very, very average. I’m an ok writer, an ok creator and although I often feel like I’m failing, I’m an ok environmentalist too. But I’ve never been naturally, inherently gifted at something.
No teacher ever pulled me aside and told me, “You’re so naturally good at drawing, or dancing, or math.” They really didn’t tell me I was good at math. In fact, the only time I was pulled aside was to tell me that I was failing Advanced Math.
But I do have a tiny bit of grit (maybe it’s just stubbornness, honestly), the desire to learn and the ability to see potential in things.
The before and after of my home. The folks that once rented my house stopped by and said, “If we knew it could look like this, we would’ve bought it!”
The stubbornness I can blame on my parents and my Taurean tendencies, but the ability to see potential in things is a skill I honed and practiced and learned. (I think you can learn grit too, but that’s a story for another time. And if you don’t want to learn new things, well.. there’s not much I can do for you, except maybe feel sorry for you.)
“Smash or Pass”
I like to play a game on Instagram called “Smash or Pass.” I share things I saw when secondhand shopping in my stories and then the viewers vote “smash” (aka buy) or pass on the item.
In a recent game, I shared four vintage metal chairs that I audibly gasped when I saw. Although rusty, I knew that they’d clean and paint up well and ultimately be perfect for my back patio. But I was surprised to see that most people would have passed on them. To be fair, they might not be some folks’ style or they might be too much work for them. That’s understandable.
But when I revealed that I “smashed” on them, I also got a lot of messages. Folks didn’t understand how I could spruce them up or they couldn’t “see” the end product.
The chairs I recently “smashed” on.
I was once this way too. I wasn’t born with the tendency to see potential in things. It was hard for me to envision the end product of my home renovations or even how something would look cleaned and spray painted. (That’s all I intend to do with these chairs.)
But being able to see potential in items is a skill.
It’s something I’ve taught myself how to do over the years— intentionally and unintentionally. It’s not magic or inherent. You can learn to see potential too.
Here’s how to teach yourself to “see” the potential in secondhand items:
As a special bonus to my subscribers, I'm opening my subscriber chat too. If seeing potential is still something you’re having trouble with, share your woes or dilemmas in the chat. I (and maybe other subscribers) will be happy to help!
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