How is God calling you?
I’ve just returned from a 3-1/2 day business retreat at the beautiful Inn at Serenbe about 25 miles southwest of Atlanta with fellow participants in The Pink Coattails Mastermind group led by Laura West and Dr. Ellen Britt. It was a time of reflection, introspection, prayer, and rest. The theme of the retreat was expansion — exploring the question, “How is God calling us to expand personally and professionally into all we are called to be and do?”
Too often, we undervalue ourselves
There were sixteen smart, capable, successful business women at the retreat, and we all had one thing in common: we all tended to undervalue ourselves in one way or another. For some of us, it was poor body image. For others it was struggling to charge our clients what we’re worth. Some described the imposter syndrome (who am I to think I’m knowledgeable enough or smart enough to put myself out there as an expert?). For many of us, it was playing smaller than we’re capable of because we can’t accept the truth that we have more power within us than our mind can grasp. We deserve to reach for the stars—not for personal gain or wealth, but for the gifts we bring to others.
Burn the self-limiting beliefs
One evening at the retreat, we did a powerful exercise—on a piece of paper, we wrote down the limiting beliefs we’d been holding on to. Carolyn Jones, the Energy Architect, led us in a prayer of thanks to these things for being part of what brought us to that moment and releasing them because they no longer served our higher good. One by one, we approached a blazing fire and threw in our pieces of paper, releasing them and the things written on them to make room for expansion and higher energy. We laughed. We cried. And we felt a palpable lightness when it was done.
I am under no illusion that I’m done with self-limiting beliefs. There are evil forces at work in the world that bring discouragement and other negative influences.
Someone will criticize me.
Someone will hurt my feelings.
I will make mistakes and put myself down.
God values us…so we must value ourselves
That’s when we must claim the promises of Holy Scripture to remind ourselves that God holds us in high esteem.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:13-16 ESV
Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:31 ESV
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians. 2:10 ESV. CLICK HERE for more scriptural quotes about how we are valued by God.
If God holds us in such high esteem, who are we to do otherwise?
Throw away the beliefs that no longer serve you
What limiting beliefs are you holding on to when they no longer serve you or your greatest purpose in the world? Give thanks—because they might have served a purpose in the past—and let them go. Fill your heart and soul with God’s love, and let it flow through you—out into the world to those who need it.
Let’s Go Bananas!
As I often do with your posts, I’ve been reading and re-reading and thinking about it for the last couple days. I do de-value myself often. But then I value myself a lot. While many people change their profile photo with inserting a French flag, I’ve taken steps to help those in my own community…writing notes, making phone calls, sending messages, to let people know I’m thinking of them. I think the value of one’s life is – in part – what people remember when we die. I attended a memorial service over the weekend and I wondered, ‘what would people say about me?’ and it truly made me think of the value of my life. I know I’ve made a difference to many people. I’ve made small comments that might mean big things. I’ve helped those that are strangers. I’ve promoted and blogged people that needed a hand up or simply a “way to go!” I think this is a big part of value – the value we give to and share with others.
Karen, once again I deeply appreciate your honest response, because it brings up something we all need to remember: sometimes we value ourselves highly (sometimes even too highly) and other times we devalue ourselves when we shouldn’t. It’s never all-or-nothing. Like so many things in life, the truth about almost anything is a continuum stretching from one extreme to another. Not only is everyone in a different place on that continuum, but we move along it at different times in our lives. That’s why it’s so important to stay in touch with your true self and not waste valuable emotional energy comparing yourself to others. The only person we should compare ourselves to is the person we were yesterday.
Thank you for sharing this very encouraging and inspiring word. I am currently in a bible study with a wonderful group of women and we are looking at the life of Joseph. His dreams were from God who blessed him and prospered him in all that he did despite personal pain, rejection and hardship. We, like Joseph, are called and chosen people in whom God has placed His very own Holy Spirit and are meant to be conduits of His blessings to a hurting and dying world. What you have shared here is another reminder of that truth that we are to recognize the value God places in our lives as instruments in His hands and that He delights in His children.
Thank you so, so much for reading and replying so thoughtfully, Laura. I am often struck by the ways we — especially women — put ourselves down or hide our light under a bushel. Our minds tell us it’s just being humble and not arrogant, but on closer examination, when we do this, we are failing to step into God’s highest call for us, and that is at least a shame and possibly even a sin.