Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself.
~ An African saying
Self-doubt is a seriously self-defeating approach to living. I know, as I have a long history of struggling with self-doubt. At one time, you could easily have called me a “self-doubt-aholic.” Of course, in this struggle, I am certain I am not alone.
Without a 12-step program for this malady, I have had to wrestle with this issue on my own. Fortunately, I have been privileged to encounter wonderful teachers and wisdom figures throughout my life; some appeared in person and some in a book or video.
But in the end, it was my growing awareness of my connection to the Creator which helped me know the abundant love constantly available to me that began my healing process.
That growing awareness has opened my eyes to the love that surrounds me every day. I learned to receive the love that had been available to me all the while, even when I was clouded by self-doubt.
How about you? Do you often feel less-than others? Do you question what you have to offer? Do you doubt your capabilities? Do you doubt those who love you when they say words of praise or say they believe in you?
Have you ever deflected a compliment? If you were praised for something you accomplished, did you say something like, “Oh, it was really nothing. It was easy. Anyone could have done that.”
I suggest you look around you. Sometimes the people we love can see who we are more clearly than we can see ourselves. Open up to receive their loving insights. I am not talking about “frenemies,” those who are jealous or competitive, but rather people such as your significant other, your closest friend, or any other person who truly cares for you.
There is an African saying that goes like this:
Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused.
When you are feeling self-doubtful, ugly, broken, guilty, and/or confused, discover your wholeness through the perception of your loved ones. They are more likely to see through to the purity of your Soul and the truth of who you really are in any moment.
Embrace the love and confidence that your loved ones shower on you and you just might begin to believe in yourself.