What can you see?

Have you ever noticed that what people may see in you is rarely what you see in yourself? There's a song by Marvin Sapp, called The Best in Me. In that song, he's speaking about the joys of God seeing the best in him, when no one else could see it. It's about the joy of knowing God loves you no matter what.



People, on the other hand, are not always as kind. But there are times when mere mortals are able to see the best in you. It is these times that I find most interesting. Have you ever paid attention to the compliments people give you? Or, even if it's not a compliment, some of the factual observations people make? How often do those jive with what you think about yourself? As a society, we spend a fair amount of time working on our outward facing image. During that prep time, we rarely (if ever) consider what people are truly seeing. Despite the rampant shallowness that seems to rule the world; friends, family, and acquaintances are often looking at more than your Louboutins and Coach belt. They are looking at what they see within you.

What I wonder, is why is it that we rarely see what they see? Why is it that other people can see leadership potential, charisma, and intelligence -- but we can't. A mirror's reflective surface can't show you what's on the inside, but spending time with yourself can. We don't take enough time to be introspective. I'm not advocating any sort of New Age hippy-dippy nonsense, but I am saying you should be aware of your own skills. Success is knowing what you're made of, and then using it. For those bad things (of which we all have some), you can't change what you don't acknowledge*. A little introspection never hurt anyone.

And, I'll say it again. Once you know what you're made of, you have to use it. Take your skills and turn them into something fabulous! And then, take your weaknesses and work them until they become strengths. We should work on our insides at least 50% as much as we work on our outsides, shouldn't we?

*Yup. I totally quoted Dr. Phil. On purpose.