I Am Enough

TED talks and she’s the best-selling author of several books, including Daring Greatly (which was the subject of a previous blog). In my personal experiences and my interactions with other leaders, it is a very long walk. Our days are filled with messages that insist that we pay attention to what people think about us. We are constantly comparing ourselves to others. Even if we resist the temptation to play the comparison game, someone else will gladly play for us and let us know the outcome. The implication of not making that long walk is that other people’s opinions will shape our identity and that we will be left saying, “I am not enough.” There will always be someone who is better or more successful than you. There will always be critics who don’t value you or your contributions. There will always be a voice whispering, “Is that all you’ve got?” In fact, even if you’re determined to make the long walk, you will still have plenty of people who want to “share” their opinions and pull you back. Believing that you’re “not enough” is a dangerous place to be. It’s what causes leaders to make foolish decisions that they later regret. They may make risky moves to prove themselves or take credit for the accomplishments of others. Or they may quietly step away from leadership completely. I am not suggesting that leaders shouldn’t listen to others. Great leaders build enthusiastic coalitions of people who are committed to a common vision, and that requires listening to others and valuing their opinions. There is a world of difference, however, between “what do people think we should do?” and “what do people think about me?” It’s the latter question that we need to walk away from. As a Christ follower, I think that the only way that we can make that walk is with God’s help. In truth, I am not enough on my own, and I never will be. But I am on a journey to say with increasing confidence, “In Christ, I am enough.” What about you? It’s easy to receive my blogs by email. Just sign-up on Feedburner by clicking here.]]>