"Doing Things at Which You Are Great"

Even way back in 1841, people found themselves doing things for which they weren’t suited. Plus, inspiration from Magnus Walker's unconventional life.

Be yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self. There is something which you can do better than another. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that. Do the things at which you are great, not what you were never made for.

Any guesses on who wrote this? Ralph. Ralph wrote it. And by Ralph, I am referring to Ralph Waldo Emerson. This gem appeared in his essay “Self-Reliance,” published in 1841. Apparently, even way back then, people found themselves doing things for which they weren’t suited. 

In 2024, people typically don’t cite “I wanted to be more myself” as their reason for leaving a job. But also, no one is usually asking. Corporate/HR checkboxes don’t do a great job capturing the depth and range of human experience and longing. 

Rather than leaving to “be more themselves,” it’s possible that seekers simply want less pretending and more truth-telling. Nothing depletes a soul faster than pretending. It was for this reaso…