See? I know about this statement from first-hand experience. Oh, I know. There are those that just aren't hard on themselves. Maybe they have a lazy streak, or don’t have personal standards to achieve. Or maybe they’re just someone with a completely calm and easy-going personality and submissive nature. That’s not who I’m talking about.
You know who you are. You’re the over-achiever. You’re the one who has the bar raised pretty high, and when you get there, well, you move it even higher.
Here’s the deal. When we do that to ourselves…we also tend to apply that standard to others. Usually, to those we love most. (“It was pretty good, but it could have been better.”)
Are you that person?
If you recognize these tendencies in yourself, consider offering yourself some grace. If you’ll think about it, you may be reaching for heights that God hasn’t even asked of you.
So, take my advice…”Don’t be so hard on yourself”.
Receive some grace for yourself…then offer it to those around you.
Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourselves.
Phil. 4:23
Are you hard on yourself?
Thanks, Robin.
ReplyDeleteI'm the firstborn so I think it comes with the territory to be a little overstructured, uptight at times with a bent toward over-achievement. GRACE. So good to hear today. Mark this down: April 14, today I'm not going to be perfect...
ReplyDeleteIt's harder to give grace to myself. I'll dish it out to everyone else and give them all the reasons to be nice to themselves, but for me to do that to me...well, it need to practice it more.Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteGood one . . . so true. This is definately something I have to work on.
ReplyDeleteI am extremely hard on myself. I'm my worst critic. Surprisingly, I'm not as hard on others. I still expect things but not like I expect it from myself.
ReplyDeleteQuit reading my diary! :) lol.
ReplyDeleteRobin- yes- this is me to a T:) Thanks for the reminder that God's grace IS enough.
ReplyDeleteGod has brought me so far in this area. I am a bit of a free-spirit so I tend be able to accept His grace most of the time...but I still struggle sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI have become much better at just letting things slide. I still have goals but they are more of a guideline than a rule.
ReplyDeleteI use to beat myself in the head and say I was stupid! God has transformed me so much where I might give myself too much grace. I am hard on myself still in 2 areas - body image and my voice...it's all vanity for me though.
ReplyDeleteYou have pretty much nailed me with this post. The only thing missing is the fact that I never belong/fit in. God's grace is enough for everyone else but I have never felt worthy of the awesome gift. I am working on it though.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments. You guys bring up some interesting thoughts. Yes, I agree, it's a very common issue for us first-born, perfectionist types.
ReplyDeleteI still say, that even though you may think you are easier on others, I don't think there's really any way to keep this attitude from spilling over onto others.
Roger--good point--guidelines, not rules.
Theresa...don't "work" on receiving grace...LOL ;) Just receive it! It's there for the accepting! (and I think you fit in with all the rest of us "mis-fit" pretty well!)
Am I hard on myself...no never. :) just kidding--I don't let myself get away with anything. I expect a lot and am always expecting more, but the more I've matured, the less demanding I've become
ReplyDeleteHaha, I'm a HUGE overachiever and I'm hard on myself all the time! Everything has to be perfect...or else. I'm getting better about it, though, and i realize now that it's ok for things to go wrong and to laugh it off.
ReplyDeleteRobin - thanks for visiting my blog! And great post - you have described me to a tee! I am very hard on myself and excpect so much from myself, and your right... when you have this tendency it DOES spill over to others. It is a character trait that I have had to work very hard to overcome... and I 'taint achieved it quite yet! :) Thanks for the great reminder!!!
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