Watch the TEDTalk that inspired this post.
The world is a choir. Each of us has a solo. Sing your song and you will change the world.
The world needs your voice. You may not have been in Eric Whitacre's video but its captivating energy highlights the heart of healing humanity. Beyond the beauty and harmony of 2,000 strong, his experiment reveals a sercret of human fulfillment and happiness.
Ever wonder why someone may be searching for themseleves thousands of miles away from home when they are not actually lost. The answer lies in an innate awareness that unless we are living a mission true to ourselves we remain adrift. We all possess a deep seated desire to be heard and to harness our unique talents. We are motivated by a desire to be part of something greater than oursleves while not losing our unique voice in the process.
This is the secret to mobilizing a crowd. External pressure offers short term gain but unlocking someone's inner passion and purpose self sustains.
Every human being possesses a desire to leave their special mark on the world. No two of us are the same. Our greatest moments of joy well up inside when we are valued not for what we own or who we know but for who we are. When we are cherished for our unique voice and our talents, we shine. If we can add our voice to the greater whole, as disparate as our sounds may be, we can and will create the most magnificent harmonies.
Yet, we live in a world with a confused defintion of success and personal worth. Our value as a human being is determined by what we give back with our very best selves. Yet, every day, we hear to the contrary. I remember a few years ago when visiting Los Angeles, I noticed the paparazzi clicking their cameras as someone was stepping out from a bright yellow sports car. I wondered about the identity of the celebrity. Until about five minutes later, I gazed back and noticed the man was gone but the cameras continued capturing the image of the car. At that moment, I realized the challenge of our society. Do we value people for what they own or who they are? Do we determine our success based how well we are like someone else or whether we our realizing our own unique potential?
Eric's video challenges us to harness our unique voices and celebrate the voice of others.
Whether a child, a spouse, a business partner or friend, if we mine for the gold inside each person we will discover the greatest treasure and joy.
The world will heal. One person and one relatonship at a time. It starts with me and you. Sing your song and discover the voices of others. The NBC show The Voice may be a hit but the the world will be even brigher if you unlock the voice inside of you.
As Martin Luther King Jr. expressed so eloquently,
If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.
Sing your Song. Cherish a Different Voice. Listen and Enjoy the Harmony.
Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form. TEDWeekends will highlight some of today's most intriguing ideas and allow them to develop in real time through your voice! Tweet #TEDWeekends to share your perspective or email tedweekends@huffingtonpost.com to learn about future weekend's ideas to contribute as a writer.