I try too hard, I do. I’m hard on myself probably 23 out of 24 hours
of the day, and rarely hesitate to demean myself until I feel it is justified. I have the capacity to hurt myself far deeper and wider than others could
even imagine doing. If you're reading this, maybe you're the same way. People may know you as "driven", "Type A personality", or "an over-achiever". You want everyone to always like you and support everything you do. I get it. But it all comes with the same dangerous message.
“Try harder. Do more. Be more.”
Essentially, if you’re not good enough, do what it takes to
be good enough.
Oh he doesn't like your short haircut? Get extensions.
She says you've gained a little pudgy weight? Force yourself
to work out twice a day.
He doesn't think you’ll make a good wife? Buy every book
about godly marriages
She says you try too hard? You keep. trying. harder.
And the cycle continues.
Why does the trait that so severely plagues us personify this
world’s method to success? We prize the person who pushes themselves beyond every
mental boundary to reach their goal, but at what price does all that pushing come?
At what point does that person cross the line from being driven, to being
driven crazy by their own desire for perfection?
If you ask a perfectionist, that line is blurry
.
I’m not going to tell you to stop trying too hard, because
that’s not the answer. If you and I already try to take every action possible
to fix one problem, then all that extra work will only expand the original
issue. I don’t even have the professional expertise to offer you the solution,
but I’ll give you what I do know: we belong to God, which means everything we
are- yes, everything- is His. He loves us just the same, and nothing we do or don’t
do will ever stop that love.
We can start with resting. We can start with silencing the
lethal, condemning words we say to ourselves. We can start with breathing
again.
“Each time he said,
"My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I
am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work
through me.” 2 Cor. 12:9
1 comment:
I find that this formula for success is also the main issue facing women today. We compare ourselves to one another's journey, and that's not what God desires for our lives. We should take rest in knowing that He created you, and He created me. He created us both to live beautifully and uniquely. As women, we need to rise up for one another and stop comparing our goods. We should find comfort and peace knowing He created us both so differently, yet loves us the same. No more, no less.
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