If You Could Have Any Super Power…
You think Batman ever sat around in the Batcave thinking “Hmmm, if I had Superman’s strength, I would be such a better crime fighter…” ? No, he didn’t. Why? Because first, Batman isn’t real. But second, and more importantly, Batman doesn’t need super powers to be awesome. He is a man of action.
Why Bother?
When I started blogging (or restarted), I was advised to find other blogs that I loved. The good news? I succeeded. The bad news? I succeeded.
Could I write this well? Could I be this interesting? This consistent? This successful? Was there even room on the internet for my blog?
Here is a list of why these questions are stupid:
1. They are not me/I am not them
2. My blog (and my life) is not about me
3. What good does it do to compare myself to them?
Okay, so that last point is a question in itself, but it’s a good question. What good does it do to compare myself to other people? To think Bob can write better than me or Susan can play the guitar better than me or Ramanda is better at meeting new people? It isn’t bad to be inspired or driven by other people, but the second a part of you starts wishing you were that person instead of yourself, you have to stop.
You be You
As my friend Dave recently said on his blog, you have to be you. I have to be me. I fully believe I was made for a reason and a purpose. Maybe Bob can write better, but maybe my writing can reach someone that his never could. Some days I just have to accept that I can’t see the whole picture or how I fit into it.
This is where I could go into verses about God knowing us before we were in the womb and all of us being different parts of the body because there isn’t a need for two noses, but that isn’t going to mean anything if I don’t stop comparing myself to others and judging myself in their eyes.
Life isn’t about what I can’t do. It’s about what I CAN do and am doing. As for the impossible stuff, I’ll leave that in God’s hands. He is pretty good at the whole impossible thing.
I stumbled upon your blog by way of Jon Acuff and reading this, was encouraged. I think we all want to have our voice heard but what I’ve had to ask myself is at what point do I start accepting the true realization that God WANTS me to succeed? From one stranger to another, I’m proud of you…hang in it and remember that God wants YOUR voice heard. He WANTS you to succeed.
It does seem stupid that we would ever think God doesn’t want us to succeed. Thank you so much for finding my blog and responding. Your words means a lot.
words mean* a lot
First off Tim, Thanks for the mention. I am honored. Second of all, this is a daily battle that I’m always having to fight.
I read a tweet yesterday from http://twitter.com/thedanhunter that said, “ESPN can make ugly games interesting in a 30sec highlight reel. Comparing to others highlights brings discouragement and insecurity!”
So important to remember!!!!!
Oh, you can probably expect to be mentioned mutliple times in the future Dave. And that is a good point about ESPN. Its similar with movie trailers. I thought the Green Lantern trailer looked awesome….I was so very wrong.
That was good. I also stumbled upon your blog via Jon Acuff’s blog. I’m not sure why writing (most likely all forms of creation on the part of humans) seems so pointless in light of what other people are doing. I keep reading all these blogs on blogging and writing and they typically empower me just enough to overwhelm me. I still don’t know what I’m doing, but I feel better about it!