Demons. Are they real?
Oh heck yes, they are!!
A few minutes ago as I was sitting at my computer about to write, I heard them in my head. They threatened me. They distracted me. They told me I was inadequate and an imposter.
Maybe you’ve heard them? Usually they show up right when you are about to take on a task that has value. Or make a phone call that needed to be made. Or complete a project you’ve been putting off. Apparently, they HATE progress. That’s when I hear them the loudest. Some people describe them as a committee meeting in our heads.
Sometimes they sound just like my voice. Sometimes they sound like an old tape from my past – repeated attacks I’ve heard again and again. (Okay, just for the record… I don’t really hear voices)
And so often, again and again, I let them derail me. Oh, I know their names:
Fear and Insecurity.
We all know them.
Just some of us don’t let them affect us so obviously. But everyone battles fear and insecurity.
Everyone. Everyone?
I’d venture to say – Yes.
But those demons don’t have to stop us.
Let me share with you what was happening a few minutes ago. I was thinking about the son of a dear friend who recently experienced an incomprehensible tragedy – to which there is no easy fix. You’ve seen the kind – loss of loved one, loss of limb, crippling disease, etc. My heart broke to think of his future and the battles that he will be facing – knowing that he could seriously drown under the pressure and weight of his crisis. While whisked away by my thoughts, I came up with the idea to write him an encouraging letter and then, realizing one letter wouldn’t be a “cure-all,” I thought I would simply continue to write him letters every week/month for years. I imagined what the impact of encouraging letters might do for this young man. Visions of him reading uplifting letters that spoke into his life, and helped him to understand how valuable he is, flashed through my mind. I started to get excited at the possibility of helping this young man through his difficulty….
And then I heard that familiar voice:
“Really? REALLY?!? Oh yeah, you could write him a letter, but do you really think you’re going to have the magic words to make a difference?! This situation is too far beyond you!”
Did you hear the mocking in that question? Did you hear Insecurity?
“Do you really think you would keep this up? For months/years??? Pahlease!!!!”
Oh! That was Fear – assuring me I wouldn’t keep my commitment.
The battle ensued…. And that’s when I realized what was happening. Those crazy “demons” – were trying to make me ineffective again.
But I’ve been ineffective far too long. Maybe writing a letter once a week/month for years is a bit “pie in the sky-ish” – but that’s how I operate!! I come up with good ideas and take them to the extreme and then I implement. I usually fall a bit short of my “pie in the sky” goal, but I’m learning.
And honestly, we’re all learning. And when we stop learning – we’ll be in heaven because then and only then will we be perfect. We can’t expect perfection here on earth (newsflash: it doesn’t exist) until we reach heaven.
Until then, don’t let a little blunder or blotch in your plan stop you. Or even your “pie in the sky” idea.
We all have crazy ideas. Ideas that we doubt would work, but are good, actionable moves that help our lives or another’s. Why not take a little risk in hopes of making life a little better for someone?
Go ahead, put your plan into action!
I’d love to hear about it. Especially if you decide to take that first step. Sometimes just declaring what you want to do makes it real and doable.
I’m going to go and write that letter now….
How about you?