Stop Playing Small

I really hesitated using the word small for this post that you're reading because too often in our society we give the word small such a negative connotation. We live in a world that is seemingly obsessed with bigness. I want us to shift our view today on smallness and look at it in a bit of a different light. When I say the word small in this context I think of the word capacity. Being small is not an issue! Don't let society poison your view. What the issue is, operating beneath your capacity! Well, you may ask, what exactly is capacity? Capacity is simply the maximum amount that something can contain. Deep down inside someone is reading this and you know the goals that you set out for yourself are nowhere near the potential you have on the inside of you, so the real question we have to ponder is why are we playing it small!? I came up with a few things for you to consider so let's look at this more in depth.

1.    Low self-esteem-

According to verywellmind.com “Low self-esteem refers to a person having an overall poor sense of self value and essentially it means you have a low opinion of yourself.” So, I believe one of the reasons why we play so small is because deep down we believe we really can't accomplish those dreams we have always had.

2.    Fear

Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of your family and friends’ opinions, and fear of the unknown, is often reasons we perform beneath our potential. Fear is often taught, sometimes by well-meaning parents, and in my case and I'm pretty sure some of you as well, through previous failed endeavors.

3.    You don’t know where to start

I have discovered when God gives you a vision about certain things it's not a matter of procrastination fear low self-esteem or laziness, sometimes you just don't know what to do. God ask you to start the nonprofit, but you have no idea how to get the 501C3 paperwork started, he asked you to start a business, but you don't know should it be an LLC or an S Corp. Not knowing where to start well typically causes you to just stop at doing what you know.

4.    Toxic environment

In 1 Corinthians 15: 33 it says “Don't be fooled, bad company corrupts good character” it may hurt to admit this but some of the reasons why we are playing it small or playing it safe is because of the people we are around. Maybe they talk fear into your plans, perhaps some of them are envious of you, and the thing I see most often is people project their fears and limitations on you and sometimes because you respect these people you listen to them. Don't get me wrong, you can learn from anyone but be cautious seeking constructive criticism from people who have never constructed anything.

The Solution

I would never present problems without presenting a solution. Stop operating beneath your potential, you have to finally recognize that it's not about you! When God created you, he created a solution to some of the world's problems. That gift or vision he birthed you with needs to be released, and in spite of low self-esteem, fear, not knowing where to start, and toxic environments, you have to look deep down and say to yourself I'm not doing this for me but I'm doing this for the generations that are coming behind me. So do what you have to do to address these problems that you have but even if you don't think you can do it, even if you are scared, and even if your background wasn't favorable, it's time to think big, dream big, write it down, start it now, and let nothing stop you this time.

Be great and stay ready!

Transitions and Open Doors

1/8/24

In life you always must be ready to adjust, you often find yourself asking what to do next!? What to do now? Because things are always changing. The word that always stands out to me is transition according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary. Transition is defined as “a change or shift from one state, subject, or place. That word stands out to me so strongly because life is full of them. Whether it be a new job, job promotion, relocating to a new town, family members and friends passed away it seems like you can never get a chance to just catch a breath. Things are constantly changing with the day. With all that being said I don’t want you to log out of this blog post looking at change as a bad thing. Change is not always negative, as a matter of fact I believe in 2024 in a lot of ways change will work out for the better. Here’s 2 things I want you to have in your heart for this year and beyond!

1.      Accept the transition- “Those who expect moments of change to be comfortable and free of conflict have not learned their history.” —Joan Wallach Scott

Change is going to happen there is no doubt about it, the key is accepting it and move forward with grace. The last two years of my life has been wrecked with transition. In November 2022 my father suddenly passed away from a massive heart attack, my heart seemingly ripped in half seeing him in that hospital bed at Temple University. Even more recently on September 28th at 1:37am my mother passed away on her bathroom while I was there urgently trying to assist her breathe. I loved my mother more than words can explain. My friends, I have a PHD in life transition. The bitter truth is there is nothing I can do to change the outcomes of these circumstances, so instead I choose to accept. I would be lying to say it is easy because it is very difficult and even as I write this I have yet to figure it out. The fact remains accept it! Accept that the person left you, accept you were fired from that job, accept that you failed the test. I am not saying it does not hurt and no lie losing my parents was the worst hurt I’ve ever experienced and it’s not even close. I want you to look at the word accept to today as simply meaning “case closed” That opens up your mind, body, and spirit to what do I do now?

2.     Stay Ready The cliché has been often stated and heard when one door closes another door opens. A closed door, a rejection, termination is often the sign of a new season. The door will be there, but the question lies is will you be ready to walk through the open door. “So if you stay ready, you ain’t gotta get ready, and that is how I run my life.”

— Will Smith

One of the worst things that could happen is the things that you have aspired of, dreamed about, or even prayed for is ready to happen for you but once the paper hits your desk, when the deal is ready to be signed, or the position is finally open you just aren’t ready. I believe with all my heart and soul, that things in the world will move at an accelerated pace. Media, technology, tragedy in the Middle East, Hollywood, even the economy are all changing so fast. Things are happening all around the world right under are nose. While a lot of things that are happening are not good and some things will get worse. Even while all the bad is happening, always remember when there is a problem it is an opportunity to bring a solution. Doors are going to open fast for you, so get ready right now, take the course, hit the gym, prepare the outlines, go to therapy. Whatever it is, deep down you know it.

So now go do it. Be great and stay ready!