I could say I don’t know where this ideology comes from, but I would be lying. Like so many things in our lives, our upbringing is often to blame.
Any of the following sound familiar?
- Don’t brag/boast; people might think you’re arrogant.
- Don’t talk to___________ about your new ____________ ; he/she will be jealous because they don’t have __________.
- Leave the last piece for someone else, even if they ask you if you want it. Let someone else have it; you don’t want to appear selfish.
I could go on but, while I believe our parents had the best intentions, this “social etiquette” advice is often misapplied in our adult life. (I believe women suffer from this more than men, but I could be biased.)
Food for thought/REALITY CHECK:
- Your mere EXISTENCE will repulse/anger certain people
- How you are received by others often has more to do with them versus you
- We all have our cross to bear; stop trying to carry theirs and yours!
- Not making your requests known, is a surefire way to never receive what you need
- Not being able to succinctly communicate your value is a surefire way to always be paid/receive less
Life is a journey: all of our experiences, struggles, losses and wins shape who we are. Some of us are more reluctant than others to learn the lessons that each experience is meant to teach us, especially the difficult ones.
The truth is:
- You can never truly experience victory unless you have suffered defeat.
- You can never appreciate the beauty of a sunny day unless you have experienced a dark, cloudy and rainy day.
- You can never appreciate the richness of a cool breeze while basking in the sun unless you have experienced the sun’s scorching heat.
The moral of this story: a diamond must first be plucked from the earth and endure the pressure intense process of purification before it can reach its illuminating, gem state. Regardless of which stage of the journey it is in, a diamond is still a diamond and is meant to shine. A key factor to a diamond’s value is its RARITY.
God made YOU unique and, even if you are a twin, there exist a uniqueness about you. Don’t make the mistake of minimizing your brilliance, or God’s blessings and favor in your life, to appease someone else’s insecurities, idiosyncrasies or jealousy. There is an entire audience that needs hope, which is why God sent you. Don’t let them down.
Alesha Brown, The Joy Guru
Publisher|Best Selling Author|Transformational Speaker
CEO, Alesha Brown LLC
"It's never too late to edit your life and I can help!"
Reality Check Slide Show:
