The Angel Inside

1. Find the Angel Inside You: Recognize Your Inner Potential

Every person has this tremendous capacity to be both king and warrior, a person of value and a person of accomplishment—of beauty and power.

Inner masterpiece. Just as Michelangelo saw an angel hidden within a block of marble rejected by others, there is a masterpiece of beauty and power waiting to be revealed within you. Despite what others may think or say about your current state or potential, your inherent value and capacity for greatness exist deep within.

Beyond external views. Society and even loved ones often judge based on external achievements like career status or income, leading to feelings of inadequacy. However, true potential, like David's capacity for both poetry and giant-slaying, encompasses diverse strengths and values that are not always visible on the surface.

Commit to the search. Unlocking this inner potential requires a conscious commitment to look inward and believe in your own capacity, even when external circumstances or doubts persist. This belief is the seed that, with time and effort, can grow into a driving force, opening up your entire destiny.

2. Follow Your Passion, Not Others' Expectations

There comes a time in every person’s life when they must decide whether they will follow what they want for their life or what someone else wants for their life.

Michelangelo's choice. Michelangelo defied his father's wishes for him to become a merchant, choosing instead to pursue his passion for art, which his father considered a lower-class pursuit. This difficult decision, made early in life, was essential for him to become the artist the world knows today.

The cost of compliance. Living a life dictated by others' expectations, like Tom's pursuit of a business career to please his father, leads to frustration, unhappiness, and a lack of fulfillment. Suppressing your true passion prevents your inner "angel" from emerging and expressing its unique value.

Embrace your path. While disappointing others, particularly parents, can be painful, ultimately, your life is yours to live. Following your passion, even if it means moving away from a seemingly secure or expected path, is the only way to find true joy, excel in your work, and ultimately achieve meaningful success that aligns with your true self.

3. Be Confident in Your Strengths

If you are to be successful, you must find self-confidence in the things that you do well, and then pursue them.

David's confidence. Michelangelo sculpted David just before his battle with Goliath, portraying intense focus and confidence, reflecting the faith David had in himself and his ability to overcome the giant. This was a political statement for Florence, encouraging the city to stand confidently against threats.

Confidence from competence. Self-confidence, meaning "with faith in yourself," doesn't come from wishing but from doing work that utilizes your natural strengths. When you work in areas where you are skilled and capable, you receive constant positive reinforcement, building faith in your abilities.

Shift your focus. If you lack confidence, it's likely because you're operating outside your strengths, leading to daily reminders of inadequacy. Identify your natural talents and inclinations, like Tom's creative streak, and actively seek opportunities to use them. This shift will naturally foster confidence and empower you to pursue your passions effectively.

4. Beauty and Excellence Lie in the Details

The masters, the ones who succeed tremendously and set the standard for others, are those who master the details.

Michelangelo's mastery. The unparalleled beauty and realism of Michelangelo's David, from the veins in his hands to the muscles in his legs, come from his painstaking attention to detail. He studied human anatomy through dissection to understand the form intimately before bringing it to life in marble.

Excellence requires focus. Mediocre work is often the result of a lack of passion, leading people to do just enough to get by. True excellence, however, is found in the details, requiring deep engagement and a willingness to invest time and effort into perfecting every aspect of the work.

Passion fuels detail. When you are passionate about what you do, you naturally become engrossed in the details, losing track of time and striving for perfection. This dedication to detail, born from passion, is what transforms ordinary work into a masterpiece and sets you apart, opening up new possibilities.

5. Connect Mind and Hand: Conceive and Create

And no conception ever comes to pass Unless the hand obeys the intellect.

The artist's synergy. Michelangelo's sonnet reveals his philosophy: the greatest ideas conceived in the mind can only become reality if the hand is skilled and disciplined enough to execute them. The slightly oversized head and hands of David emphasize the importance of both conception (mind) and creation (hand).

Bridging the gap. Many people either live solely in their minds, full of dreams and ideas that never materialize, or they are constantly busy with action that lacks clear direction or purpose. True accomplishment requires synchronizing the two – letting your mind envision the desired outcome and then training your hands (or skills) to bring that vision to life.

Skilled execution. David's victory over Goliath wasn't just a brave idea; it was the result of years of practicing his sling skills in obscurity. His mind conceived the victory, and his trained hand made it happen with a single stone. Cultivate both your vision and the practical skills needed to execute it.

6. Plan and Prepare Before Taking Action

The lesson is not to move too fast. Fast enough to get where you want to be, but slow enough to do it right the first time.

The sculptor's process. Creating a sculpture, like building a life, requires careful planning and preparation. Artists sketch ideas in pencil (erasable), create small models (test runs), and mark the marble before making irreversible cuts. Mistakes in marble are costly; mistakes in life can be too.

Avoiding regret. Many people drift through life or make hasty decisions without truly planning what they want their life to look like or investigating if a path is truly desirable. This can lead to investing significant time and resources into something that ultimately brings no joy or fulfillment.

Methodical progress. While excitement may urge you to move quickly, especially when starting a new path, take the time to plan and prepare thoroughly. This doesn't mean inaction, but rather ensuring your actions are well-conceived. Planning saves years of potential frustration and regret, helping you build your desired life correctly the first time.

7. Accomplishment Begins with One Swift Action

Action is the beginning of accomplishment. Without it, you have only wasted dreams and good intentions.

The first strike. Watching an apprentice make the first decisive strike on a block of marble illustrates a simple yet profound truth: every successful endeavor must begin with action. No matter how much planning or dreaming occurs, nothing is created until the first step is taken.

Overcoming inaction. Many people are held back from pursuing their dreams not by lack of ideas or even planning, but by a failure to start. Fear is often the most powerful paralyzing force – fear of failure, judgment, the unknown, or even success itself.

Defeat fear by starting. To overcome inaction, you must confront your fears and take that initial swift step. Whether it's making a phone call, sending an email, or simply starting a small task related to your dream, this first action breaks the inertia and sets the process of accomplishment in motion.

8. Embrace the Stages of Growth: Chipping, Sculpting, Sanding, and Polishing

Trials produce perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope.

The sculptor's journey. A block of marble transforms into a masterpiece through distinct stages: chipping away excess, sculpting the form, sanding rough spots, and finally polishing to reveal its beauty. Life follows a similar progression, each stage necessary for growth.

Accepting the process. People often resist the painful stages, particularly the "chipping" (removing negative aspects) and "sanding" (facing adversity and suffering), because they involve discomfort and change. However, these challenges are crucial for removing what hides your true self and building substance and character.

Finding opportunity. Embrace each stage with a positive attitude, seeking to learn from difficulties. Adversity, like sanding, smooths rough edges and builds resilience. By actively participating in this process – chipping away flaws, sculpting through positive influences (people, books), enduring sanding (trials), you prepare yourself for the "polishing" stage where your inner beauty and power can shine.

9. Be Content: Success Takes Time and Methodical Action

Sometimes success takes years. It takes methodical action over time.

David's slow emergence. Michelangelo spent twenty-eight months sculpting the David, a slow process of less than two inches per week. This methodical pace highlights that significant accomplishments often require patience and consistent effort over a long period, not instant results.

Unrealistic expectations. Comparing yourself to media portrayals of rapid success can lead to disappointment and pressure. True success, for the vast majority, unfolds gradually, with each stage serving as a proving ground to build skills and foundation for future achievements.

Reshape your thoughts. Instead of focusing on perceived shortcomings or how far you "should" be, cultivate contentment by appreciating your current stage and the lessons it offers. Remind yourself daily that you are progressing, building towards your goals little by little, and that enjoying the journey is as important as the destination.

10. Start Small: No One Begins with Their Masterpiece

Live your life and do your work in the embodiment of excellence, and opportunities will flow your way.

Michelangelo's progression. Michelangelo didn't start with the Sistine Chapel. His career progressed through increasingly significant works like the Battle of the Centaurs, the Pietà, and the David, each building upon the last and demonstrating growing mastery before he tackled his most famous painting.

Excellence opens doors. Young people, or those starting new ventures, often feel pressure to produce immediate, monumental results. However, the path to great opportunities is paved with consistent excellence in the work you do now, no matter how small or early in your career it may seem.

Focus on the present. Demonstrate excellence in every task, relationship, and aspect of your character. This commitment to quality, rather than just dreaming of future success, is what makes you noticeable and creates opportunities. A passionate life lived with excellence in the present is the surest way to build an accomplished life and character over time.

Last updated: May 4, 2025