When I was young I often looked for things where I could be “first”, even “best”. You compare yourself to others and strive to be recognized as better than all others. As I aged, it became a personal competition to find that “head of the line” spot, team captain, supervisor, manager, owner.
Get the picture?
It’s hard being at the end of the food chain and longingly looking for the next best place up the line. Perhaps you feel stuck and there’s no place to go. Or, depending on your outlook, there’s no way you will ever be better than you are.
I’ve been there! Too many times it was that location that forced me to change my surroundings! I adjusted my perspective because I did not like where I was, nor how I felt.
Jon Acuff, NY Time Best Selling Author, shared something that got my attention this week and it deals with perspective.
The four greatest things about perspective:
1. It changes your entire outlook on your day and your world.
2. It teaches you how to see other people.
3. You can change it instantly.
4. It’s 100% free.
~JonAcuff
I dived into my view of wanting to be “first” in everything. Well, most things… truth be known? I find, and perhaps as I age it’s more apparent, I really don’t want to be first in hardly anything at all!
Here’s My Thought
Though I may have dreamed of being an astronaut when I was young, to be the first man on the moon? An impossible set of odds and conditions that put Neil Armstrong there first, and Buzz Aldrin second. It was like a funnel of many, to the extrusion of one. The pressure to get to that narrow opening first!
Or, how about yearning to be the MVP of the NFL? Impossible for me, sought after by others, and lauded over by fans and sports enthusiasts. The Gold, Silver and Bronze Olympic awards are separated by 10,000th of a second – distance or speed.
A hitch in the giddyup can cause you
to miss out on being at the head of the race!
So. I quit trying to be first, and simply strive “to be the best me that me knows how!” Yes. It’s a familiar theme for me. I don’t want to be First in Heaven. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’ll be happy being the last!
No longer do I strive to be "first" or "best" based on other's view. I simply yearn "to be the best me that me knows how." Judge me by "me" and not you nor others. Click To TweetSo. What’s most important for you? Relationships? Family? Finances? Career? Longevity? Success? It’s all about your perspective.
What Does Your Perspective Say About You?
I found a really interesting article about Bill Gates. Well, actually, the “two Bill Gates” – the one from his earlier life, and the one from his later life. [Source]
When he was young and Microsoft was beginning to boom, his perspective was hard work, long hours, and being the “obsessive taskmaster.” Then, when he stepped down as CEO he is suddenly an “older, wiser, gentler version” preaching about the importance of love and relationships and flexibility.
What happened? How did his perspective change, seemingly overnight?
This is difficult to parse out as I’m sure it was not an overnight change. It’s building up to, and then retreating from, a constant restructuring of life and expectations!
I can describe what my perspective about “you” might be, but it is better seeing yourself introspectively. Call it what you will, but there are probably things about you that we don’t like! If you review yourself, you will find your own version of “you” that you don’t like!
I’ve been called on the carpet for my abilities, and lack; responsiveness, and lack; follow-through, and lack…
Step through this thinking process with me and I’ll be quick to say I’m not perfect! In fact, in the ways that you want perfection are probably on the opposite end of the spectrum on what I value as perfection.
Comedian, Ken Davis, was speaking to a group of singers (Gaither’s Homecoming Friends) and I heard him say something that nudged me.
“I’m not okay. You’re not okay. That’s okay!”
Can you live with that?
What Can You Live With?
When it comes to those close to me, I’m generally okay with imperfections. Why? Because I have them! Lot’s of ’em! I’ll ignore your’s if you ignore mine!
But there is a thought about improvements that is important. For this, you need a friend. Someone you trust, and someone who has your back!
Just as iron sharpens iron,
a person sharpens the character of his friend.
(Proverbs 27:17 CJB)
This “friend” is the person you need to help you see yourself. Through the years I thought of certain people as a friend, but when they stabbed me in the back I realized I didn’t understand friendship. I had made a mistake in assuming they were a friend.
Let this happen often then you put up a guard, isolate yourself from others, and it becomes difficult to find a “friend that sticketh closer than a brother!” (Proverbs 18:24)
As I age, I find there are fewer friends that I can trust, hence, I start dropping a load of personalities as someone to care about. It’s happened in every state I’ve lived, and every job I’ve worked, and every calling of ministry I’ve been involved in.
If you are my friend, then thank you!
You help me become a better Me…
I hope I reciprocate equally.