Have you ever felt like you aren’t enough? Or did you feel like you had no business doing what you are doing? Have you heard “Who do you think you are?” as you tried to make something new or better? I have felt and heard these things.
But I persevere because I must be authentically me; I must not let the thoughts of others control my life.
A Shift in Perspectives
To persevere requires that I shift my perspectives, something that isn’t always easy. Many of us have grown up with criticisms; those little gifts bestowed on us by others during our childhood. The problem can be that we take the criticism to heart, and we believe that the speaker was telling us the truth about us. Think about it, in what ways are you the same—or different—from who you were at age four?If someone criticized you, saying that you were stupid when you were 4, would you still believe it when you were 50?
One of my favorite quotes is from the Talmud – “We see the world as we are, not as it is.” This statement shows that our critics are only telling the truth about themselves. It is with their eyes that they see something to criticize; through their perspectives, they feel they can judge us. Their criticism reveals their perspective, which has nothing to do with us.
Letting Go of Criticism
Once we realize that we don’t have to believe what others say about us, we can let go of their criticisms. But what if we heard that same criticism throughout all of our childhood? The thought becomes entangled in our cells, and it might not be so easy just to let it go. Sometimes, more in-depth work is needed.
The perspective you hold colors your world. Yet, the world view of others may be a filter through which you look. The beauty of this is that you get to choose your perspective! You do not have to hold onto the world view of others; it can be their truth, but it doesn’t have to be yours!
May you be blessed!