Limitations are only in the Mind
My three year old daughter is teaching me that limitations are only in the mind. For too long we have believed too many lies. By the way how many three year olds have you heard calling themselves dumb, fat, ugly, or not good enough? I never have, on the contrary, I have seen them persevere for what they want. They could be perfect car salesman!
When I was in the six grade I was running with all my other classmates during P.E. when a couple of girls said that I ran like a chicken, so for the next 20+ years I have not run. How much power I allowed these girls to have on me. Unfortunately, I know I am not the only one with a story like this. I know at some time in your life someone called you short or tall, fat or skinny, dumb or a nerd, etc... For some of you this never faced you, but for others did. However, I would not be surprise that at some point in your life you have believed a lie that has limited you from being who God called you to be, or from fulfilling your life goals. You see, my three year old has a weak right arm and leg, because of the stroke she had six months ago. I have never seen this child depress or sad about how her life has changed and how she can't use her arm to do what she use to. On the contrary, I see her making it work and many times in the most creative ways. If she has to have her hand taped to the bar handle of her bike, so it won't fall off, so be it. If she has to hold the bowl with her chin while she mixes the cake ingredients, then she does it. If she needs to ask for help, she does. Nothing holds her back. Some of us have been held back by:
- Lies or complexes
- Comparing ourselves with others
- Lack of understanding who we are
- Lack of purpose
- Dramatic experiences from the past
How do we over come this?
- Changing thought patterns. Ex: don't call yourself a looser, don't say your dumb or fat or ugly or not smart enough, or not fortunate enough because your kids or your spouse are not like "so and so"
- Take time to write down all the things that you are good at (also called "talents" or "spiritual gifts" and focus on those. I am trying not to let lies limit me....however, this doesn't mean I will go and audition at America Got Talent and sing. That is not my talent, I already tried, I auditioned in for the High School choir, I have taken the music lessons. Though I don't sing, I speak....public speaking is my gift, so instead of being sad at the fact that I will never be Whitney Houston, I need to spend more time enhancing my public speaking, or start running (because I do not run like a chicken!)
- Help someone that is in need- take the focus of you and be blessed by helping someone else
- Study the lives of those that have challenges and how they over came obstacles, ex: Helen Keller, Desmond Doss, etc.
- Remind yourself constantly of what God says about you. Remember that "For as he thinks within himself, so he is...." Proverbs 23:7. What do you think about yourself? "The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences." Proverbs 18:21 What does your tongue say about you?
Everyday try to work on at least on point one and five, and at least once a week on the others and begin to live a life free of lies and limitations.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8