Taking Our Own Advice

On the radio this morning, the host talked about his struggle with not feeling good enough. This actually was something he mentioned in a discussion about kids winning participation awards for sports. Most people seem to be on the side that think those awards will make people feel entitled to always win something.

However, the host launched into a personal musing to give a boost to the argument in favor of those awards. He mentioned that he used to play football, which there is only a winner and a loser. No one got awards for just being there. It’s just not part of the game.

When he got more into the arts, he realized that there will always be someone that is better than him, so maybe a recognition of effort wouldn’t be so bad when he couldn’t be the best. Someone out there would always be better than him. That thought could bring feelings of worthlessness and apathy. Why bother trying when you can’t be the best?

The host said he’d been struggling with this and, honestly, I have too, but right away when the host started saying it, my mind launched into a rebuttal...

Each one of us has something unique to bring. Sure, you may not be the best, but no one thinks exactly like another and you would bring something special just because you are you.

This reminds me of the show Hit Record. There is a site where people create and post the things they’ve done. Then others can take it and make something new with it. For example, many short films have been made with illustrations someone drew as the backdrop. The music is sung by one person who might have gotten the lyrics from someone else. It is animated by yet another person. The final product can be amazing, but it wouldn’t have been the same if only one person had worked on it.

We each bring our unique gifts.

After a few moments where I gave lengthy advice in my mind, something struck me. I’m quick to give advice to help someone else, but I rarely listen to my own advice. I want to help others, but I don’t try to fix my own problems.

All the stuff I mentioned above is a great example of how I wasn’t taking my own advice. So many times I’ve just given up because I wasn’t the best. I didn’t try so that I couldn’t fail. Then, I would turn around and encourage people not to do the very thing I didn’t realize I did.

Often I know the answers and how to help others with their problems, but I don’t try to fix myself. Maybe it’s ignorance and I just don’t recognize my own issues. Maybe it’s laziness and I don’t want to put the effort to improve. Maybe none of the above.

It’s so easy to deal out words meant to help others, but it’s much harder to actually take our own advice.