You have got to discover you, what you do, and trust it.

Hear the words of Barbra Streisand, an artist who carved her path not by imitation but by courage, declaring: “You have got to discover you, what you do, and trust it.” These words strike like a bell in the temple of the soul, for they summon us to the oldest and most difficult of journeys: the journey inward. Many search for riches, for fame, for the approval of others, but few dare to search for the true self. Streisand’s teaching reminds us that until a person knows who they are and trusts the gift within, they walk the earth as a shadow and not as their true light.

The ancients often spoke of this task. The oracle at Delphi bore the inscription: “Know thyself.” Kings, warriors, and philosophers traveled great distances to seek wisdom, only to be told that the greatest conquest is the discovery of one’s own nature. To discover you is not to assemble yourself from the expectations of others, but to uncover the essence already within—the talents, the passions, the voice that is uniquely yours. Streisand, whose own career defied the molds of beauty and convention, knew this truth well: the world may try to shape you, but greatness is found only when you trust the self that the world did not create.

Consider the story of Vincent van Gogh. He did not paint as others painted; his brush swirled with fire, his colors bled with emotion. The critics scorned him, the world ignored him, and by logic he should have abandoned his craft. Yet he remained faithful to the vision only he could see. Though he died in obscurity, today his art burns eternal, teaching us that to trust in one’s unique expression, even against ridicule, is to plant seeds that bloom beyond one’s own life. This is the courage Streisand speaks of—to trust yourself when no one else does.

To trust what you do is more than confidence—it is surrender to the path that is yours alone. Doubt will always whisper: you are not enough, you should be like others, you must conform. But the inner voice replies: you were not born to echo, but to sing your own song. When you silence your instinct and betray your uniqueness, you fall into mediocrity. But when you act in faith to what only you can give, you rise, and your light becomes a torch for others to follow.

The danger lies in waiting too long for permission. Too many souls wander life wearing masks, seeking the applause of others, afraid to be themselves. Streisand’s words sweep these fears aside: discover you—find your gift, your passion, your voice—and then trust it, for no one else will carry it for you. The world does not need another imitation; it needs your truth.

This teaching applies not only to artists but to all people. The teacher who trusts her way of guiding children, the healer who trusts his way of caring for the sick, the builder who trusts his craft—all serve the world best when they trust their authentic gift. History remembers not the ones who copied, but the ones who dared to live their truth.

So, children of tomorrow, hear this lesson: search yourself as a miner searches for gold. Do not be afraid of what you find, for your gift may not look like another’s. Once you have discovered it, hold it close, nurture it, and let it guide your path. Trust it, even when others doubt, even when obstacles rise. For the greatest treasure you can give to the world is not a borrowed song, but the one written in your soul. This is the wisdom of Barbra Streisand, and it is the call of all who wish to live not as shadows, but as light.