Posts Tagged: Suart Smalley

“GOOD ENOUGH, SMART ENOUGH, AND LIKABLE ENOUGH”

On July 21, 2018 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

“You are good enough, you are smart enough, and doggonit, people like you.” (Stuart Smalley)

The preceding affirmation is provided by my 12-step sponsor.  He encouraged me, several years ago, to begin daily affirmations as well as reports.  It is a wonderful discipline!  I tend to be a positive person . . . except about myself.  My pretty-much daily affirmations help me to set a good tone for my day, even (especially?) toward my own self.

I have struggled, since I was little, with believing—or rather, not believing—that I am good enough, smart enough, or likable enough.

The question, of course, is this: What does the word “enough” mean?

Now, I know what the dictionary meaning is for the word, but what about my own, personal dictionary?  What does “enough” mean to me?

A good friend of mine pointed out to me years ago that I don’t want to be a good man.  I want to be perfect.  I initially disagreed with him, but have finally come around to his way of thinking.  To be “good enough” means being perfect.  Of course, I’m not perfect, and therefore, I am not good enough!

What utter nonsense!  But there it is.

And knowing enough?  Same thing.  “Knowing enough” means knowing everything.  Since I don’t know everything, I obviously don’t know enough.

And about people liking me?  Of course many do, and some don’t.  But if only enough people liked me, then I would be likable enough.  And, of course, “enough people” means everyone.

So, I often tend to drag around, with a low-grade contempt for myself.

However, the Bible—both the Old and the New Testaments—often remind me that life isn’t about what I am, or what or who I think I am.  Rather, life is about who God is.  God is enough, and therefore, I am enough.

Tomorrow’s affirmation, which I plan to keep in focus even today, is this: By God’s grace, I am good enough, I am smart enough, and doggonit, people like me.

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