Michelangelo once said, “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” Diamonds are formed under pressure, but never forget, they are not formed overnight. In life, we are constantly pressured to meet expectations and to deliver exceptional results. The moments when we rise to the occasion will, more often than not, include a high amount of pressure. Do we dare to engage in the face of such pressures? Do we have the gumption to give it our all, knowing full well that we may fall visibly short? Just like a diamond cannot be polished into shining without friction, a man or woman cannot be perfected without trials. Just like the diamond in the rough, everyone is born with the potential to be a leader inside of them but that potential needs to be set free. Nobody and nothing is born perfect, so we, too, need to be worked on. Perfection is something that is achieved and not ascribed. The metaphor, in other words, is that "diamonds" are created under conditions of great pressure. We all have the God-given power within us to overcome challenges and rise above any turmoil to succeed. The key is to believe and have faith that you can. Every person is a diamond, the toughest substance in existence. Sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of pressure to allow the diamonds within us to shine. Be that diamond that thrives under pressure and shines brilliantly.
