The Only Thing Stopping You
You have a dream. You have unrealized potential. There are things you want to do that you haven’t done.
Whether it’s your next step spiritually, a promotion, a financial goal, exercise, a new attitude or a new career, you’ve got something you dream about on your radar screen.
What’s stopping you?
The answer is simpler than you think. You are.
At least I know in my own experience, I’m the biggest cap on my own development, future and potential.
Here’s how it happens.
We live in a land of a thousand excuses and justifications.
I have too much to do to get started on it…
I want to do ______, but here’s why I can’t….
I’m not sure I could….
If I didn’t have _________ as a boss/spouse/income/career….
If only my skill set was different…
If someone would just give me a chance…
I’m not sure why God made me this way. If he hadn’t, then I……..
Spend some time auditing your thought life today. You’d be surprised how much time you spend convincing yourself you can’t get on to your next big project, your next dream, or even the right thing to do.
I’m not saying there’s never any external opposition to people realizing their dreams. I am saying most of us will never figure out what that is because the only thing that keeps us from our next step is ourselves.
Until you change that.
Next time you think of a reason, excuse or justification – call it out. Surrender it to God. And be honest with yourself.
Then, perhaps, the thing that’s stopping you will at least not be you. And you might discover you’re no longer being stopped at all.
LIKE! I needed that today!
I’ve realized that trying to be an extrovert while actually being an introvert has really held me back because I was trying to live up to some other expectation rather than being who God made me to be. I couldn’t really put my finger on it and always wondered why I couldn’t do X, Y or Z as well as So-and-So. Currently reading “Introverts in the Church” by Adam S. McHugh and loving it. Can’t wait to get back into ministry after mat leave!
Thanks Katie. Me too.
Ada – that’s a great insight. I think ministry both attracts and produces introverts. Knowing what refuels you and what drains you is so critical. Thanks!
Thanks, Ada. Your comments made me think about my “shortcomings” as a “good Christian”! Sometimes I think we do try to overshoot the gifts that God has given to each of us. May He make it clear in our minds and hearts what our Spirits should be doing, not what “we” think we should be able to do!