Hi readers, it’s been a while since I am writing. Today I want to share with you my speech for the Toastmasters International Speech Contest. You can find the video at the bottom of the article. You can choose between reading the script (which I have slightly adjusted) and go straight to the video. And by the way, it’s actually pretty much similar to the article The five steps to win with your limitation.
…Let me start by wishing you Happy Valentine Day. Any of you has a chance to spend the Valentine Day with your loved one? That’s great. I don’t have a girlfriend yet, but if I do here is what I’m going to say…
Honey I loved you so much, that I prayed for an angel to watch over you. But surprisingly, the angel came back after few seconds, he told me, “Robert, I’m an angel, why should I watch over an angel?”
photo credit: SantaRosa OLD SKOOL
Well, anyway, let’s talk about another angel, but this time he does not have wings. In fact, this angel doesn’t even have arms and legs, but his life has been an inspiration to a lot of people.
His name is Nick Vujicic. He was born in Melbourne, Australia without arms and legs for no medical reason. Yet, now, only in his 27 years old, he is an international speaker, bringing inspiration and gospel to all kind of people all over the world. His resume was written with rejection, low self-esteem, and loneliness, but that’s how he can reach out to many people with the similar problem.
What is your reaction when you hear the story? Are you inspired, motivated to do the same? It was not the same for me, I was jealous. Yes, I was jealous over his limitation. I justified why it’s so much easier for him to become an outstanding motivator and speaker. And subconsciously, I have compared my limitation against his limitation…
I don’t know about you, but if it’s the same for you I hope that you are reminded that…
Everyone is disabled in a way, only that the physically disabled is more visible.
There is no point for us to compare ourselves with others. We all have strengths and limitations. The right question is what we should do with them. And here I want to share how you can BOSS them, not the other way round. It involved 4 steps and let me share with you what they are.
1. (B)efriend it
You don’t have to pity yourself because of your limitation. Can you actually laugh over them? Live with them as if they are your friends? It’s true, it’s not easy. Normally I will be intimidated by them, rather than laugh over them. But things will look different if you accept them, if you accept who you are today. As what Robin Sharma said, “What you resist will persist, but what you befriend, you will overcome.“
2. (O)wn it
Knowing your limitation maybe one good thing, but it’s not enough by itself. You need to own them, and what I mean by that is to take responsibility of your limitations. You can always blame it to your God, parents, friends, relatives or environments. But if you want to change, you have to take responsibility of them. That you can change, or even if you can’t you can change your perspective over your limitations.
3. (S)tep over it
You can consider your mistakes, failures and limitations, either as stumbling block or stepping stone. Look at Nick Vujicic, his unique life story has helped him to reach many people. Similarly, if you want, you can see how you can actually use your limitations, turning your limitation into advantages.
There is another angel I want to share, his name is W. Mitchell and he has gone through 2 accidents that left him devastating burns over 65% of his body, and life bounded in a wheelchair. Yet he said, “Before I was paralyzed there were 10,000 things I could do. Now there are 9,000. I can either dwell on the 1,000 I’ve lost or focus on the 9,000 I have left.”
At least, your limitation gives you focus, so you better focus on what you can do now rather than things that you can’t do.
4. (S)tretch it
And last but not least you can learn to stretch your limitation. Often we mistake comfort zone for limitation, and we live too comfortable within it. As we practice, make trial and error, you’ll be surprised that you found that your comfort zone is now much much bigger.
Believe me on not, I was a very timid person. I used to blame my parents for protecting me too much. Of course it was not easy for me to stand and speak in public like this. But as I practice, speech after speech, I am getting more comfortable with public speaking. I used to tremble like hell, but now I can speak confidently in front of you, and motivate you to do the same.
I hope that this message has been useful to you. Believe that we are all angels, even if we don’t have any wings. And we can do something to others, despite of our limitations.
Thank you guys, and by the way, it’s been pretty shaky life for me the past few weeks. Trouble at work, stuck at career and personal life has occupied my mind a lot these days. I felt misunderstood and helpless many times. I’ve been trying to work very hard, yet find it useless.
I thought I won’t be able to share this article with you as I often find it hard to do it as well. However, writing it and sharing this to you has been very encouraging to me, to let go and start a new day, every day. I hope this will encourage you also, take every day as a new opportunity to be the BOSS of your limitation. Take everyday as a new opportunity to find a reason for smile.
Staying positive,
Robert
And here’s the video…
Hello and welcome! I am Robert, sharing with you articles in personal management and personal development. Check out the 
13 Comments
Nicole Price
on 23rd Feb, 09 02:02pm
The video is a nice way to get to put a face and a body to the name. I have of course seen your face on the photo on the blog, but in this video, the way you talk, gesture etc, have made you more real. Thank you.
As usual, a great post and you have gone to great lengths to put it all down. Very inspiring thank you once again.
I shall now focus on the one thousand things that I can do.
Robert A.
on 25th Feb, 09 12:02am
Hi Nicole, great to know that you enjoy the video. Let me know if you have any video that can help me to know you more.
Cheers,
Robert
Daniel Richard
on 25th Feb, 09 02:02pm
I liked the story about the angel watching over ‘another’ angel. Humor added to liven up the place.
I see that you’ve shared some of your worries at the footer end of the post. But knowing and daring to write that out takes courage and I’m sure you’ve listed them so that you can think through on how to overcome those limitations. Way to go Robert!
Arswino
on 27th Feb, 09 04:02am
I have heard about Nick Vujivic before and he is truly inspiring. It was nice to hear him again in your article.
I absolutely agree with your thought. It is our limitations which could make us extraordinary. God has given us talents. It depends to ourselves to find those talents and sharpen them.
Great article here, Robert. Thanks for sharing.
Robert A.
on 28th Feb, 09 12:02am
@Daniel, thanks mate! Yeah, writing is therapeutical, and indeed encourage me to enjoy life despite things that don’t go well.
@Arswino, yeah, I always like the talent parable in the Bible, no matter how little it is, it’s still a talent, and we need to sharpen them.
Thanks guys, and cheers,
Robert
game-girl
on 8th Apr, 09 06:04pm
I have never heard of Nick before,but read many stories about people born blind and deaf and legless who became heroes in different senses.I only add that God loves everybody and he must work and live to make his body and soul perfect.This is our way.
Positively Present
on 21st Apr, 09 06:04am
Great post! I’m all about taking control of your life and this post really shows how we can do that. No matter what kind of situation we are in, we can find a way to cope. Thanks for sharing this insipiration!
Robert A.
on 24th Apr, 09 01:04am
Game-girl… it’s so true, heroes doesn’t always have supernatural power, but they always have super-natural motive to help people… to be an inspiration or help in any way they can.
Positively present…. thanks for the praise. You remind me that we can choose. Life may give us something, but we can choose how to react… and that applies to our limitation as well.
Glad u both enjoy this post!
Cheers,
Robert
game-girl
on 26th Apr, 09 04:04pm
I want to thank you for nice thoughts and that great photo at the very begining.In my imagination it is the personification of the supernatural power you’ve mentioned before.I am going to pray before the new project in June and saying the sacred words I will meditate on the view.
Robert A.
on 27th Apr, 09 06:04pm
Hi game-girl, you’re welcome! thanks for letting me know!
Robert
bardy
on 8th Jun, 09 08:06pm
Even, I also thank you for your splendid thoughts, I liked this post very much and as you described about beging the boss of our own limitations is just phenomenal. I am very much impressed, robert. Keep it up!
Robert A.
on 9th Jun, 09 09:06am
Thanks bardy! Really appreciate what u said here.
used tires
on 16th Jun, 09 04:06am
Aww that angel line was really sweet and cute. But wow I am speechless at what you say, you were really jealous of him? Its peculiar really, interesting just from my point of view I don’t understand it. how could you even bring yourself to say it? Why would you be jealous of someone without limbs? Mmm I don’t think I’m going to agree with you on this one, I don’t think his limitation helped him become an outstanding speaker… because he had to choose to get over the humps and make something of his limitation, to let all of his life woes aside and just suck it up… a very difficult thing to do. Even if he is successful, its what we have to do to as you say get over the humps of our limitations.
Till then,
Jean