risky business

I was a hard working kid. I would focus on one task, giving it all the energy I had. I consistently hoped for perfection. My birthday parties happened to be a celebration that I often wanted to be quite flawless. Since perfect doesn’t exist, and I had very little awareness of the requirements for ideal parties, I often found myself extremely disappointed at my failed attempts, never knowing what I actually needed to improve.

The small challenges I faced when I was attempting perfection truly affected how I would perceive challenges in my continual development. Those challenges have served to affect me to this very day. Until recently, I didn’t even realize how affected I’d been by the many times I unsuccessfully tried to get an “A”, tried to complete a task on time, or tried to throw the greatest birthday parties. I wanted my life to be filled with EPIC moments. Since it wasn’t, I began to let myself off the hook. I began to try less. I began to count myself out.

While I consider myself a gritty person, I have come to realize that I began to count myself out of the life opportunities when I thought they would be too difficult for me. After all, trying was risky business. The chances of being shattered because I messed up or because I didn’t cut it were too high. It was easier to be good enough than it was to be great. I didn’t even realize I was doing that to myself until recently. Despite my successes, my efforts to overcome obstacles and my ability to build relationships, I was consistently afraid of failing. Mistakes have been, seemingly, too painful. Big risks were going to increase my own internal criticism. That’s what I was thinking, anyway.

As a believer and follower in Jesus, I have clung to the Bible as a guide. Hebrews 12:1b says, “let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” If I’m totally honest, there are times…there were times that I have forgotten these words. I forget my life is His race, and my life is His life for me to steward and care for. I have a responsibility to the life I’m stewarding to be the best version of myself for the One who created me, flaws and all.

Consistency is key. Flaws and failure are friends, not foes. Growth is the goal, and I want everyone to share in these freeing ideals.

The bottom line: This life is “Risky Business” worth risking, living and growing in.

1. What have you sealed off from yourself because you think it would be “too hard”?
2. Write down 3 steps you could take toward that “hard thing” that would take you closer to accomplishing what’s in your mind or in your heart to do.