We're Thirsty for What You Know! Can You Share Your Passion?

why-share-what-you-know

It’s easy to take for granted the things you know. By taking for granted, I mean you assume a lot of what you know are things everyone knows. And if everyone knows, they certainly don’t need to hear the details from you. Right? Sure, there are many things that are common knowledge and facts we rely on knowing for survival. But the things you focus on after all of your basic needs are met—the things you’re passionate about—don't assume those things are common. There is a wealth of knowledge within you that we may very well know little about.

Yes, chances are good that there are other souls with similar interests as you, and I bet you're surrounded by them, yes? That's because we attract that which we most admire. If I love cooking, I'm going want to hang with people who appreciate good food and probably enjoy cooking, too. If I've been practicing yoga for a few years, I'm soon going to notice that everyone and their neighbors practice yoga, as well. This is because of the "birds of a feather" phenomenon, a.k.a., homophily, and when it comes to assuming we all know/like the same things, it can be very deceiving.

Getting back to how many fellow humans "everyone" actually includes when homophily is taken into account? The number can be staggering. Trust me, there are far more people outside of your birds-of-a-feather bubble who don't know what you know about your passion than there are who may have already heard what you have to share. Let's quit worrying about them. Besides, truth is, you could still show them something new and they'd probably be grateful to you.

Why Should You Share What You Know?

Reason 1: You'll learn even more about yourself

Sharing what you know with others sheds light on your communication style/skills, further defines things you like/dislike about your interests and reminds you about things you knew previously but may have assumed you'd forgotten.

Reason 2: You'll grow your skills

The teacher teaches what she most wants to learn. In your resolve to explain something to others, you’ll work harder to learn the details of what you want to share. It pushes you to dig even deeper so you're prepared to answer questions. This is known as the Protégé Effect. When you can't answer a question, that's OK. This is why I often prefer the term sharing over teaching. Teacher and student can share an exploration together.

Reason 3: You'll gain recognition

The more often you share what you know, the stronger you're viewed as an expert. I hear a lot of people say when this starts to happen that they feel like a fraud or imposter. (I felt this way for a long time, actually.) If this is you, may I please refer you back to the introduction to this post? On the things you're passionate about, you are an expert. Now step up and take some credit for it. The greater your recognition, the more people will come to you and the more people you'll inspire.

Reason 4: It feels wonderful

Sharing what you know is an act of love and service. And you already know acts of love make you feel great. I want this for you. I want you to feel that sense of warmth when someone tells you how inspired you've made them feel. How you've bolstered his or her confidence, proving to them they could accomplish more than they'd imagined. 

If you're still thinking you can't teach others, here's a really great set of steps to suggest otherwise. You can do this. We're thirsty for what you know! Please share with us.

Maybe you're not sure which ideas to start with, or perhaps you know what you want to share but are at a loss as to how to go about it. We can figure it out together.

 

Previous
Previous

How to Answer Yourself from Your Heart

Next
Next

Add Sparkle to Your Meditation! A DIY Cement Project