You're Better Than You Think (Do you believe it?)

The view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life. It can determine whether you become the person you want to be and whether you accomplish the things you value." Carol Dweck

Mindy and I still laugh about her discovery that among some of the childhood "artworks" my mom somehow saved, that I used sign my "art", "Jeff the Great!"

Trust me, when it came to art, now and then, "the great" poorly identified my artistic abilities! Frankly, not sure why mom saved it!

But, in years of pastoring and then coaching people in all stages and abilities, I think that one of the most powerful things we can identify and lean into is our true greatness....

• Who we really are

• What we really are called to be great at

• The great calling that's bigger than us and serves others

I agree. There really are people who are narcissists. They think 'more highly of themselves than they ought to" as the Bible warns us not to do in Romans 12:3. They write "the great" in areas where they're actually quite lousy.

But I actually don't think that's where most struggle. At least not those I've known or coached.

Most of us have YET to discover our true calling to greatness. For some of us, it's our fault but I think our education and upbringings didn't serve us in this.

Often, the missing piece (and missing peace) is tied to an identity that believes "I'm nothing special." "I'm not uniquely gifted." "I don't have a true calling that God or others need or care much about."

For most of us, our deep problem isn't narcissism. It's not knowing who we were born to be and where our true greatness lies.

It's thinking we're mediocre when in actuality God has made us unimaginably awesome!

Here's what that sound like in a coaching coaching session.

• "I can't because I'm a woman"

• "I'm too young"

• "I'm too old"

• "I'm a jack of all trades"

• "I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up."

• "I'm not great at any one thing"

• "I don't have the resources to do what I'm called to do"

• "I've tried and I failed"

Ever said any of these?

Two questions:

1. Are they true?

2. Are they always true

And what if they really, REALLY aren't true?

Might it be that who you are, what you're great at and called to has been created for NOW?

For this season? For this year? For the challenges of our day?

You are great! Do you believe that?

Maybe, like me, not at art or other things... but God didn't make a mistake when He created you JUST AS YOU