A healthy self-image is nurtured by the belief that doing your best is all that you can do.
An unhealthy self-image can cause all kinds of problems here on earth. Keep in mind, in heaven, all self-images will look like Jesus because we will be made like him.
Back to earth… We often impose standards on ourselves that we would never think of imposing on someone else. For us, everything has to be perfect. Any variance from perfection and there we go down the drain, into a dizzying spiral that can easily get out of control.
It is generally a good thing to have high expectations. But, it is also a good thing to have realistic expectations. Is every person going to play golf at the highest levels? Is anyone going to keep the neatest and most organized household. Of course not. While those things might sound trivial–to some they are not–they’re the stuff of angst and gripping depression.
And we all know that there are many psychiatrists that make a very good living helping (sometimes) people work through the lofty views of themselves as it relates to accomplishments.
Speaking from experience, accepting a mediocre outcome when you view yourself as better than mediocre (at something you’re trying to do) is no easy let down. We go straight to the “I’m pathetic” card which serves no one any good.
If during an event–when you’re doing something, if we would concentrate on taking a inventory from time to time and giving ourselves a pat on the back for doing the best we can do, the shortcomings that will arise will loom less large.
In today’s Tiny Words. Big Life. Bible verse, Timothy tells us how to approach God as a worker–someone who is doing something. We should not be ashamed.
So, today’s Tiny Words. Big Life. recommendation is to practice being kind and realistic with your self. You do yourself no favors when you’re constantly telling yourself that you can do nothing right, or things are never quite good enough. Do your best and make it a point to learn something every time things don’t work out as rosy as you’d planned.
Pretty soon, you’ll be able to smell the roses instead of getting pricked by them.
2 Timothy 2 : 15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.