Lessons from the Wizard of Oz

The Gifts We Carry Inside

What if your core issue is where your gold lies? I remember seeing The Wizard of Oz when I was a little child. At the time, I didn’t see it with the depth that I do now.

The lion had no courage, the tin man had no heart, and the scarecrow had no brain. At the end of the movie, the wizard gives each of them the gift they already carried inside: the lion was given the gift of courage, the tin man the gift of a heart, and the scarecrow the gift of intelligence.

In that moment, each character’s eyes light up as if realizing what they had been searching for was already inside them all along.

Blessings Hidden in Our Core Struggles

Sometimes the very things we run from in ourselves—the traits we belittle or feel we lack—hold blessings in disguise. I’m not posing this as an absolute truth for every situation, but it’s something to consider.

There is a quote that reminds me of this idea by Marianne Williamson:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure..."

Williamson's words capture the idea that our true power often scares us more than our perceived limitations. We are not meant to shrink. We are meant to shine.

Discovering Hidden Strengths

I have seen this play out in my work with children, adults, friends, and even acquaintances. I’ve seen the child who thought he wasn’t intelligent creatively solve problems. I’ve known people who believed they were insensitive but who showed up for others with remarkable empathy.

I’ve watched myself wrestle with codependency, insecurity, and fear—only to realize that by facing life's uncertainties, I was tapping into inner courage and resilience I never knew I had.

Finding Gold Within

Each of us has been given some core issue that we wrestle with throughout life. Maybe you’re the tin man, the scarecrow, or the lion. Or maybe you believe you lack something else entirely.

But the truth is, what you are seeking may already exist within you—waiting to be found, developed, and celebrated.

Gold is there when you finally choose to journey inward and claim it.

Related Reflection

If you're exploring what it means to stay true to yourself despite fear or judgment, you might also enjoy my reflection on being yourself and the courage it requires.