Remember that time in first grade when you made a simple, almost mediocre painting—and yet, you were applauded for it? The teacher smiled, people clapped, and in that moment, you truly believed you could be the next Pablo Picasso. That spark, that feeling—it was never about the quality of the art, but the impact of someone simply seeing you, recognizing your effort, and telling you, “This is good.”
Or that day you won first place in a poetry competition. The words you penned weren’t extraordinary—maybe even forgettable—but someone believed in them. Maybe they weren’t the best verses in the room, but someone whispered behind your back, “This one’s special.” And suddenly, you felt like you could be the next Rudyard Kipling, writing verses powerful enough to move the world.
That’s the power of being seen.
So often, the journey from the shadows to the spotlight doesn’t begin with brilliance. It begins with belief—someone else’s belief in you, before you even believe in yourself.
Let’s be real. Sometimes, our art isn’t the finest, our leadership isn’t flawless, and our work may not be the best in the room. But when someone chooses to see the potential, the effort, the heart behind it all—it changes everything. It gives you the courage to try again, to dream bigger, to show up louder.
Icons and tycoons, the people we look up to—were they born extraordinary? Maybe not. Were they always the smartest or the most talented in the room? Probably not. What they did have, though, was someone who saw them before the world did. Someone who made them believe they could be the next Ambani or Birla.
And when we lack that kind of support, we start doubting ourselves. We begin to think we’re not enough, that we’re alone in this. But maybe—just maybe—it’s not about you being incapable. Maybe it’s about being in an environment that doesn’t celebrate you, that doesn’t believe in you the way you deserve to be believed in.
Take the movie Taare Zameen Par. Ishaan Awasthi, a young boy misunderstood by everyone—labeled as lazy, slow, or disobedient—until one teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh, stepped in and saw him. Not just his struggles, but his spark. And once he was seen, once someone chose to trust in his creativity, Ishaan blossomed into the artist he was always meant to be.
That’s all it takes sometimes—one person to recognize your light, even when you’re stuck in the dark.
So, if you’re struggling right now, feeling like you’re not enough, remember: maybe you’re just not surrounded by the right people yet. The right eyes. The right hearts. Don’t blame yourself for everything. Instead, go where you’re seen. And when you find your spotlight—shine so bright that you become that person for someone else.
Because being seen doesn’t just change lives.
It creates them.
