Do I wait for others tell me who I am? Or do I know who I am, both my strengths and my weaknesses?
There are days I struggle with myself, my confidence facedown in the dirt. Funny story: I remember the day I thought: Where do I get off thinking I could ever write a book? — and I had just published my first novel!
Odds are, circumstances had tripped me up that day, skewing my perspective of myself. More than likely, I ran to someone else — several someone elses — to encourage me, to tell me I was okay. That I could write. That I would publish another book. A better book. And that’s okay because that’s what family and friends are for: they believe in us when we don’t.
But I’m learning to accept myself, even love myself, for who I am. Strengths and weaknesses. Good habits and bad. Successes and failures. I’m becoming more forgiving of my mistakes and yes, more confident in my abilities.
The difference is, my anchor, my confidence, is in who God says I am — loved, accepted, forgiven — and the truth that He loves me no matter what — success or failure, strong or weak, questioning or faithful.
In Your Words: How are you doing when it comes to accepting your strengths and your weaknesses? And while we’re talking today, I’d love to hear something you’re good at!
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Comments 7
I can beat any man in any land at any game that he can name, for any amount that he can count.
Accepting strengths is tempered by the need to improve even the best; and pain is merely weakness being forced from the body.
I used to think those were just stupid moto slogans fit for a dorm-room poster, but recent events in life have shown me their truth. At the moment simply remaining upright is harder than any Ironman ever was.
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Andrew: One thing I know about you — you are strong. You stare down the word “QUIT” and say, “I DON’T THINK SO.”
I can beat any man in any land at any game that he can name, for any amount that he can count. I grew up believing that. If someone could do it, I would do it better. Of course, ‘better’ was defined by me, not someone else. 🙂
And Beth, you must have had that thought when you were working on your second book. 🙂 Every book I start, I think those same thoughts. But I know God will give me the words and He will you. Maybe one at a time, but He will.
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“Of course, ‘better’ was defined by me, not someone else.”
Oh, Pat, this is such life-giving truth. I need to exhale and breathe it in.
I am more accepting of my strengths though not many than my weaknesses. I am a worrier. I stress over the small things. I miss the days when I didnt stress over stuff. I need to work on it…
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Beverly:
It’s good that you embrace your strengths — women, especially, have a difficult time even seeing those. And yes, worrying can steal our joy … and sometimes it’s the compounded worry over the little things that does us in.
I’m grateful I’m good at enjoying knowledge and passing it on in ways that usually make others want to learn more. Also that as a kid God helped me see the nourishing details in nature that show His face and order and added to my enjoyment and foundation of who He is. Now I see my grandkids excel in some of those same things, which pleases me. When I asked one son to help fix my 2 flat bike tires that won’t hold air, or take them off to get them to a bike shop, he countered by saying I was too old to ride a bike and he wouldn’t help. I didn’t like that, but somehow will find another way to get that done–it’s just that the bike shops in our area are a far piece to walk and push w/o enough air inside to ride it all, & the bike won’t readily fit in my car. Maybe attach it to the local city bus I’ve never ridden? I’ll find a way.