Rebaptise

"The great epochs of our life are the occasions when we gain the courage to rebaptise our evil qualities as our best qualities."

-- Friedrich Nietzsche

Rebaptising evil to good may sound strange at first, but it seems to be just Nietzsche's grandiose way of speaking about redemption, of speaking about transformation. Dictionary.com tells us that "baptise" means "to cleanse spiritually." And I think that's exactly what our old buddy Friedrich is calling for here.

See, the qualities and characteristics that are sometimes dubbed "evil" are merely our strengths turned inside out. To cleanse those same strengths and use them in a positive way redeems both the qualities and the person who uses them.

Author Ann McGee-Cooper, expresses much the same sentiment when she asks us to remember what it was we got in trouble for when we were kids. Those very things you got in trouble for as a kid, are you strengths as an adult, she adds.

Let me give you an example. As a kid in elementary school my report cards were filled with teachers comments like "David is a good student but he talks too much during class." "David sometimes uses humor inappropriately." Or my favorite "Disturbs, his neighbors." Now, as somewhat of an adult, I make a good portion of my living giving presentations, many of which are peppered with what I'm sure my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Welborn, would consider inappropriate humor.

So, today your assignment (should you decide to accept it) is to start your own great epoch by looking at your so-called "evil qualities" and rebaptizing them as your best. Are you lazy? Maybe you could teach relaxation workshops. Are you a hellion between the sheets? Maybe you should become a sex surrogate. Talk too much? Become a professional speaker! You get the picture -- find a positive use for those very qualities and characteristics for which you have received negative feedback. Turn your strengths right side out. And in so doing, transform both yourself and your life.