The Power of Perception

A few days ago, I was let in on a secret. A wise woman, here at Pitt, verbally expressed something we all know. Our peers, professors, family, friends, and strangers have the ability to perceive us however they see fit. These perceptions can be based in reality or have no basis at all. We came to a common conclusion. Is it fair to us that each person passing by can judge us without knowing our inner soul? Better yet, is it fair that we often are held captive by others' perceptions of us?

I don't think so. Neither did she. She proposed that we take control and define ourselves. In essence, we look inward, determine who we truly are, and project it outward. This way, there is no discrepancy between who we are and who we appear to be. The real secret in this message, however, lies in the self discovery. No matter how we conduct our lives, others will always have the power to perceive us however they choose. The magic lies in the fact that once you honestly know and love yourself, it doesn't matter. Others' opinions fade. You are left with your own impression of yourself, the only one that matters.

My proposal today is to take a few moments to look inward. See yourself for who you are, rather than someone else's definition of you. Discover the shadows, the light, the contradiction, the beauty, and love yourself. With this, may you feel the relief of not needing to look to others for acceptance. Your perception is the only one that matters.

Swing Set at Sunset

A quick note tonight:

Today on my run, I allowed myself to feel a multitude of emotions. I allowed my settings to soak into my skin. How often do we run through our days without taking time to just feel? Take a few moments each day to let the sun kiss your skin and breathe in the fresh, crisp spring air. Sometimes, when we take a few moments to let our mind wander, we find a beautiful thing. We find where our mind ends up.

I found a playground during my run. Happy as a clam, I hopped on the swings and gazed at the majestic cathedral as I pumped my legs. Laughing, I relived one of my favorite things to do as a kid. I jumped off the swing and saw how far I could jump and still land on my feet. Funny how this relates to life. We have that moment of uncertainty as we fly through the air, mid-jump. Will I fall? Then somehow, we land on our feet.

We are never too old to be a kid again. Let yourself enjoy that part of life too. Who knows, you might just learn something while you're at it.

The Art of Collaboration

As a speaking coach at Pitt's Oral Communication Lab, I help fellow students master the anxiety associated with public speaking. Once anxiety is recognized and proactively addressed, many can take control of their speaking skills to improve their public speaking. All of this comes back to an important trait: confidence. Confidence must take root in your message and yourself. We all are unique, gifted, and have special messages to share.

Today, I worked with research students to aid in poster presentation skills. Each student shared their findings in their respective field and subject area. While I was able to help them master their speaking skills, I too was learning from them. I enjoy listening to each person and gaining a glimpse into current research through their specific interest areas.

We are all on a quest for knowledge, a quest that, hopefully, never ends. It is important to recognize your special talents and share them with others. Have confidence in yourself and your gift. At the same time, we are always learning and have room to grow. Try not to let pride impede your quest to learn. When we can recognize the strengths in others and allow them to teach us, we strengthen ourselves. In this light, we may equate growth with collaboration, confidence in ourselves and our peers, and a persistent quest.

Home Sweet Home

In honor of going home today, I am taking time to think about my growing years that shaped me into who I am. Some truly amazing people have stepped into my life throughout the years. I am so excited to take a short reprieve from the bustling city to enjoy time in the countryside. Memories flood back to me there. It is nice to think of our past because it reminds us of all that we have to take with us on our journey.

Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing spring break!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd9zYKLepCw&feature=related