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!