Forget Mediocre. You Are Extraordinary!

You are not mediocre. You’re extraordinary!

Sometimes, I may sound redundant. If I do— my apologies.

Encouragement is the lifeblood of this blog, and judging from my behind-the-scenes stats, those are the posts that get the most hits. That tells me something. Positive messages and words of affirmation tend to resonate with you.

While I do talk a lot about my writing journey, I’ve always made it clear:

This is not strictly a writing blog. There are hundreds of writers, authors, and professionals who blog endlessly about the process and communicate their messages beautifully. In fact, I follow many of them.

While those blogs are important and offer tremendous value, I’m struck by the weight of discouragement we see on a daily basis— not just in the writing world, but in all facets of life.

I’m aware many of you are dealing with heartache and despair. (I’ve had my share of that, too.) Because of this, I want my cyber home to be something different— a peaceful place you can recharge your batteries. A place you can feel a little better having visited than when you first dropped by.

There are enough No-No Nancys and Downer Dans in this ol’ world.

Folks are hungry for kindness. Hope. Encouragement.

Kick off your shoes, friends. Grab a glass of iced tea or cup of coffee. Scoot a little closer for a big, ol’ cyber hug———-> (((HUG))) There! Feel the love?

You’re welcome here!

Annnd… we’re off!

These are some thoughts I’ve shared before, but I think they bear repeating. I pray they bring you joy.

We’re born into this world defined by others’ perceptions.

Mediocre OR extraordinary are mindsets we grow accustomed to from the moment we make our grand entrance. Almost immediately, labels are thrust upon us based on who we are born to and not who we actually are— a child of God.

As we age, things shift a bit. Additional factors are thrown into the success/failure pot. We become known as Sally Sue, the best speller in first grade, or Johnny Paul, the “slow” boy.

Initially, we believe we’re who we are because of who others say we are.

A five-year-old doesn’t yet have the same cognitive skills as a fifteen-year-old. “Success” to the small child whose family lives on a fixed income might look different from his classmate’s point-of-view whose dad is a neurosurgeon.

Success to Johnny Paul might be clean socks one day out of seven. A ten-dollar binder versus a seventy-five cent notebook. A pat on the back for today’s C instead of cold indifference to yesterday’s F.

Years ago I had an acquaintance in college. “Cassie” was socially backward and other students often went out of their way to avoid her. Because of how she was raised, her lack of social graces, and the inability to make and keep friends, she believed she was mediocre. And worse— a failure.

I lost track of her after I graduated, but I think Cassie went on to meet with some measure of success from what I understand. Her career choice within a helping profession led me to believe she’d come to view herself differently. I’m happy about that and I’ve wondered what turned the tide for her. (I speak in the past tense because, sadly, I learned Cassie passed away a few years ago.)

Of course, social rank and familial circumstances influence our self-esteem and perception of who we are, but others’ beliefs don’t have to determine who we become. We get to choose! (Philippians 4:13)

Some folks may have mentors to come alongside them and offer encouraging words, while others are influenced by naysayers and negativity. I find it heartbreaking that there are those who would rather feed their own egos than bestow affirmations, but that’s a sad reality in today’s me-me world. I don’t think it’s a new concept. I just think it’s more openly displayed now.

How then do we strive to be different? To rise above those who tear down?

We make a plan and go for broke!

We stand firm.

We refuse defeat.

We develop winning mindsets.

We visualize greatness.

What do we have to lose?

What do we stand to gain?

Here’s what I believe:

Failure is a preconceived notion not endorsed by God.
It’s a mindset of the enemy.
It steals our joy.
It limits our possibilities.
It influences our effectiveness.
It cripples.
It kills.
It’s a lie.

Success, however, is God-ordained.
It’s goal-focused belief in all things possible.
It sees beauty.
It prompts growth.
It draws others.
It sustains.
It rescues.
It’s the Truth.

Often, how we respond to or evaluate others is based on our own insecurities and imperfections. (I blogged about that.)

I wonder how different the world would be if we sought to encourage instead of condescend. Applaud and not patronize. Share–with no agenda.

That’s radical thinking!

And finally…

Never

ever

should we believe that we are beneath, not as good as, or less than the Sally Sues of this world.

We may be at different stations in life.

We may have different directions we’re pursuing.

Or we may know a little more than others on the same path.

Regardless…

We—YOU—are extraordinary!

It’s because of Christ we have what we need to succeed.

And we should share that knowledge with those who still live with labels.

***

Additional thoughts you may enjoy:

Chocolate Makes the Medicine Go Down

“P” is for Patience (The Word Writers Know Best)

Broken, Stuck, or Closed: The Door God’s About to Open

AND a few FAVES to Check Out:

Sugarpie Farmhouse

(From right here in my own neck of the woods. I’m crazy about this website and it’s loaded with tons of delightful goodies!)

William Sirls

(One of my new favorite authors! Ever read those books that immediately hook you? Well, this fellow’s done it for me. Author of The Reason and The Sinners’ Garden—which I highly recommend—William Sirls has quite a testimony. He doesn’t sugarcoat things or talk “religion” in a namby-pamby fashion either. Check out this blog post, for instance. I simply love his books. You will, too!)

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Failure is a preconceived notion not endorsed by God. Encouraging thoughts here: