Dare to be you, because you are “enough.” Easy to say, but it is not always easy to do. Trusting in ourselves can be quite a challenge.
A dear girlfriend, Janice Gilbert, gave me a bracelet of hers… a bracelet I have since worn nearly every single day. Its single round silver disk is engraved with powerful words.
“You are Braver than you believe, Stronger than you seem, and Smarter than you think.”
Lately, in speaking to groups about my new book, I found myself questioning whether I could say anything meaningful. It matters little that I have spoken before both large and small audiences countless times. Each time, I worry… I ponder… I pray. I care about them and the precious gift of time that they are entrusting to me.
“Why on earth would anyone want to go out of their way to listen to me speak?”
“What can I possibly say that will bring value to their lives?”
“Was I presumptuous to even write 21 books, never mind go out to speak about the latest one?”
Blessedly, when I put on my positive face and start to speak I have been richly rewarded by faces that beam with smiles and heads that nod excitedly in agreement. Presentations have been followed with so many gracious compliments and excited comments like, “Best program ever!” Then I am humbled even further.
I believe it is very easy for each of us to fail to recognize that we each matter… and perhaps very much to someone. We need not have a worldwide impact to be valuable. When we can touch even a single life, make even one small and positive difference for someone, or inspire a person to recognize a perhaps long-forgotten value in themselves, then we have had a wonderful day, month, year, or life!
We humans are very easily knocked down in this life. And it can take multiple positive thoughts to begin to squelch a single negative thought.
Try to associate with people who encourage you and appreciate you and respect you. YOU are worth it. Be good to yourself.
“Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.”
— Golda Meir (1898 – 1978)
4th Prime Minister of Israel, 1969 – 1974
