Saturday, July 11, 2015

Only You

by Beth Vogt @BethVogt 

"You are the only person on earth who can use your ability." Zig Ziglar

There are some things only I can do.

Being me, for example.

Nobody else can be me.

Brilliant deduction, I know.

I spent some time — too much time, to be honest — doubting myself. (Yes, yes, I’ve admitted this before, so I won’t belabor it again.) Lesson learned: Spend too much time doubting yourself and you spend too little time being yourself.

When I finally looked into a mirror and liked who I saw, well, then I could begin to appreciate what I could do. Not in a prideful way that put others down. I could just look at myself and see possibilities. Potential.

Doubt is such a waste of time … a waste of personhood.

Do I still doubt myself sometimes? Oh sure.

But I doubt a choice I’ve made. A yes or a no. I don’t doubt my worth. And just because I can’t do something today doesn’t mean I won’t be able to do it tomorrow … or the next day.


In Your Words: What abilities do you have that make you … you? How have you learned to embrace who you are, moving from doubt to a sense of worth?

TWEETABLE
Only you can use your abilities - thoughts from author @BethVogt on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A nonfiction writer and editor who said she’d never write fiction, Beth is now a novelist with Howard Books. She enjoys writing inspirational contemporary romance because she believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us. Connect with Beth on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or check out her blog on quotes, In Others’ Words.

6 comments:

  1. Beth, this is short and sage and I need to go back and count how many quotable you have packed into this post worthy of a PicMonkey meme! My fav, "Spend too much time doubting yourself and you spend too little time being yourself." A timely read for me as I prep for writers conference and am assailed with doubts as to the value of what I have to offer. Thanks for the cheer to sallie forth!
    Joy!
    Kathy

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    1. Kathy,
      I often find quotes that apply to me -- and then talk myself through the truths I need to remember in my blog posts. Glad you were encouraged today. And while you're at that writers conference, remember: this is your opportunity to talk with passion about the story that is so close to your heart. Do it! :)

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  2. Beautiful post, Beth. Timeless truth. For me, moving from a place of doubt to a place of worth is an on-going journey. I still fall back into times where I doubt my worth. It often takes a friend to remind me who (and Whose) I am. This has been huge in helping me to see the worth God has created in me.

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    1. Jeanne: I so believe in the value of friends who help anchor me to the truth -- or to the Truth. They hold me steady when I'm wavering towards lies.

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  3. Bullseye! Direct hit. Straight to my brain...and my heart. Thank you.

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  4. Beth, what's helped me the most in this doubting battle--and it is a tactic of the enemy of our destinies, is the freeing thought that the Jesus in me is what I have worthy of sharing. He is my talent and joy. Without Him I am a mess and not very talented, but His light in me is what i can shine and give away. When my focus is on me, I'm so doubtful, intimidated, and discouraged, but when my eyes are on Him, I can do anything to the best of my ability with the Holy Spirit's help, in faith, and He is responsible for the outcome. I just have to be faithful to my part.I always love reading your words of joy and hope. I love how you love who you are and what you do. Christ shines through you.

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