You Are Enough (And So Am I)

Dealing With Setbacks

In my last post, I wrote a mostly self-berating article about how poorly I was doing in maintaining my spiritual life. I don’t take any of that back; I meant what I said. Looking back, I realize that there is more to be said.

Recently, I dealt with a handful of setbacks. I suppose that’s part of living life; everyone has to deal with such things. As I was reviewing what had happened, I was trying to understand where I went wrong. That’s when I realized something. I do this all the time, as it turns out. Whenever something goes wrong, I always tend to think that it’s my fault somehow. Sometimes it is, I won’t deny that. But I think this shows a deeper issue going on. I have not resolved my self-image with my faith. I am also convinced that there are many others who have failed to do the same.

Spiralling Down The Societal Ladder

In modern society, everyone is treated a certain way based on nothing more than their accomplishments. If you did well in school, have a high-paying job, then you are clearly a responsible person, with worth. If you didn’t get the right grades (for whatever reason) and work a ‘menial’ job, you must somehow be dull and meaningless. I absolutely hate that society is this way.

Years ago, I dealt with a fairly harsh reality. Because I missed some of the societal hoops (mostly because I was unaware they were even there), I was relegated to the bottom of the social hierarchy. To be honest, this made me pretty mad. Later I would come to realize there are hundreds of thousands of others with the exact same experience. Who are intelligent, creative, and ambitious, and society has left them all behind. If we ever expect to live in a world of justice and balance, then it all starts with a mindset.

When society leaves you behind, it can create a terrible self-image. Making people feel as if they have failed somehow. That somehow we have no value. And it’s a terrible cycle.

“And Grace calls out, ‘You are not just a disillusioned old man who may die soon, a middle-aged woman stuck in a job and desperately wanting to get out, a young person feeling the fire in the belly begin to grow cold. You may be insecure, inadequate, mistaken or potbellied. Death, panic, depression, and disillusionment may be near you. But you are not just that. You are accepted.’ Never confuse your perception of yourself with the mystery that you really are accepted.” – Brennan Manning

Deeply rooted in the Christian faith is the belief that God determines our worth, purpose and meaning. The truly incredible thing is that God does not care what our societal position is, our education level, or what kind of job we managed to land. None of that matters.

It is absolutely vital that we change our mindset if we would change the world around us. Despite what anyone says, you are accepted. You are loved. You are enough.

Despite the setbacks I deal with, this is a truth I constantly need to remember. I can berate and beat myself worse than anyone else. I am far quicker to see my own flaws and inconsistencies than the worst troll. I so often gloss this over by claiming that ‘I am a perfectionist’ or ‘I simply have high standards.’ A complete lie to justify what I know is a mindset that will ultimately poison everything around me. It is just pride and self-pity creating a toxic brew within. Whereas when I remember the truth about who I am, how God sees me, then I am freed and empowered to live as I ought. To be kinder, compassionate, and living according to the standards God expects. And that is enough.