Be kind to yourself

News flash: being too hard on ourselves can be detrimental to our success. When we finish a project and others compliment us on it, do we accept the praise? Or do we respond with: 'Well, this bit could have been better.' Sometimes, no matter how much those around us offer encouragement, the improvements we think we have to make stop us taking any compliments on a job well done. We are quick to compliment a friend on a job well done, so why not ourselves?

'But I'm supposed to do my best,' we say. Of course we are, and we should all, always, try to do our best (Colossians 3:23 style). But what if doing something with our 'whole heart' doesn't mean overthinking and not ever being satisfied with the result? What if wholehearted work means that we can walk away when whatever-it-is is done, feeling like we've done what we could, and that God has enabled us to do our best? Spending too much time thinking over our mistakes or failures keeps us from doing that.

This is how God sees us: 'You are a chosen people... God's special possession' (1 Peter 2:9 NIV). He has appointed us to do great things in this world, so he'll enable us to do them to the best of our ability.



So what now? Be kind to yourself. God loves you, sees the great things you do for him and he's well pleased.





— SCRIPTURE —

'You are a chosen people... God's special possession.' 1 Peter 2:9 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

Gen 14:18-24, Ps 110, Heb 5:5-10