(Please read this month's article in its entirety first before clicking on the links in the first paragraph. The story will have a much greater impact if you do so.)

An overweight man with a crooked smile sells cellular telephones.
If you were to pass by him on the street, it's likely you'd pay him little notice as he's not a very attractive fellow. And if you've ever had any unpleasant encounters with salesmen or experienced frustration with your cell phone, you might judge him because of the work he does rather than who he really is. A self-confident woman with an athletic build is a writer. If you were to pass by her on the street, it's likely you would notice her because she's a pretty gal who smiles and says hello to strangers. And you might judge her according to how she looks on the outside without ever knowing who she really is within.

How often do we judge others based on misperceptions and limited information? How many times have you judged another person when you really didn't have a clue about them? How many times have you been judged and wondered how in the world people could get you so wrong? We're all guilty of this terrible habit - We meet someone for the first time and after we've learned their name we ask them, "What do you do?" and then we make assumptions based on what he does for a living rather than how he lives his life. I no longer ask people that question. If someone wants to tell me what kind of job or work he does, then I'll leave it up to him to tell me. I'm much more fascinated by the answers I get to this question, "What do you like to do?" It typically eliminates one-word answers and it opens up the conversation to something unexpected.

Hiding Out Serves No One

The truth is...what we expect isn't usually what we get.
It's not just our assumptions of others that can catch us by surprise when we discover what's real and what's not. Oftentimes it's the expectations we have of ourselves that cause the greatest pain and keep us playing small. If you indulge in regular judging of others, it makes total sense why it's likely you'd do the same to yourself. It's hard to see your own beauty when you can't see it in the eyes of strangers. What would our world be like if we stopped making assumptions? How might we be living our lives differently if we all just stopped hiding? Imagine being surrounded by passionate, authentic and fearless folks. That vision puts a big ol’ smile on my face and gives me goose bumps. Whenever I meet someone who is wearing their heart on their sleeve and taking steps towards creating and having what they really want, it encourages me to keep doing the same. Here are a few suggestions how to dig in and discover the gem that you are...

Five Ways to Find What's Hiding Inside

1) Ask others what they really think of you -Yes, this takes a bit of courage on your part to ask the question, sit back, shut up and listen to their answers, but it's also a courageous thing for people to tell you what they think. Give them and yourself a pat on the back for being real.

2) Write a list of words that describe who you are -Using positive verbage is the only rule when making your list.

3) Take something you love to the next level - Whatever you have a tremendous passion for, experiment with a bigger, bolder expression of it. For example, you love singing in the shower. How about giving karaoke a try? Or you love baking bread for your family. How about you send a loaf of your favorite recipe to friends as a surprise gift? Passion squared and shared makes for a shinier gem.

4) Do something that scares you - Now don't go doing something stupid or that puts your life in danger. Be smart when it comes to raising your adrenaline and increasing your heartbeat. Go after something you've always wanted. Take a risk and tell someone how you really feel about them. Quit your job if it's something you absolutely can't stand. Challenge yourself and it's likely you'll discover brilliance you hadn’t noticed before.

5) Check out your reflection -The next time you're standing in front of a mirror take a good look at what you see. Notice what happens when you let go of your judgments and focus on what you really love. Where there is love there is always expansion. Always.

Every one of us is as rare, unique and beautiful as the most exquisite diamond. Having the courage and confidence to shine and share our brilliance with others doesn't require us to be perfect, just perfectly normal. Yes, that's right. Be normal. Be yourself by being who you are and doing what you love. You'll not only live an amazing life, you'll inspire others to live theirs.

One day, a man came home and was greeted by his wife dressed in a very sexy nightgown. "Tie me up," she purred, "and you can do anything you want."

So he tied her up and went golfing.

A woman came home, screeching her car into the driveway and ran into the house. She slammed the door and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Honey, pack your bags. I won the lottery!"

The husband said, "Oh my God! What should I pack? Beach stuff or mountain stuff?"

"Doesn't matter," she said. "Just get out."

Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right, and the other is a husband.

Mother Superior called all the nuns together and said to them, "I must tell you all something. We have a case of gonorrhea in the convent."

"Thank God," said an elderly nun at the back. "I'm so tired of chardonnay."

What part of you do you keep hidden from the rest of the world?

How might your life be different if you were to unveil that hidden part and share it with others?

Care to share what these questions stir up in you?

Send me an e-mail. I welcome your thoughts and will respond to all e-mails received.

~Playful Spirit Productions' mission is to inspire people to show up, be real and play big in life.~