we are selfish people instinctively. I recognize this in general humanity and myself for sure. Why do some of us thrive on that selfishness and others try to turn away from it and instead try to shed that like it is a sin to care for yourself. I don't know but it seems like all things in life you need a balance.
Can you teach it? Or is it genetic? Why is one person selfish while another is selfless? There are many in between. I know that it was years before I understood what my grandma used to say to me about "the road to hell being paved with good intentions". Many of us have good intentions on selflessness, but our need to feel good about ourselves gets somehow between our intent and our actions.
I am no different than any other mere mortal. I can resist my selfish gene better than the average Joe, but that doesn't mean that I don't try to take credit for what I did. Does it matter if I want credit? Or to be recognized for the good deeds that I have done? IF I am actually doing good deeds. Is the real judge where my heart is when said deed is done?
Well if you were asking my opinion on the subject (insert selfish gene here) the answer lies somewhere mixed up in both. You must do a deed that has no benefit to you directly because you truly have a heart to help. It is not wrong to want to be recognized, but to get recognition for the sake of recognition is probably not so great either. The recognition should be a surprising but nice sidekick to just doing the right thing because it is the right thing.
I have recently been asked why I have a motto that I am "here to help". I can honestly say that while there are many contributing factors I can sum it up in a simple description. When I die, I want to know that I have had a positive and meaningful impact on this world. It seems that the way that you know that, is when people remember you. Your everlasting life is in part created by the fact that you live on in the hearts of the people that you impact (presumably in positive way).
With that idea in my head it compels me to reach out and work everyday to have even a minuscule impact in a person's life. My heart aches for it daily, like the need to eat or breathe. That sounds so dramatic when you write it down. But truthfully my chest actually aches sometimes, to help where its needed.
When have you done enough then? Help your family, help those in need, pray for those that need it(not just the words, but with intention in your hearts), Have the grace to know that you can't help everyone, and the knowledge that you weren't put on this earth to do that anyway.
I struggle everyday with this question even though I know the answer. I AM ENOUGH. I have been enough since the day I was born. My only job is to work everyday to be the best version of the person that I AM. That is my job the ownership I take in that job determines the kind of success I will have in making that impact I am supposed to make on the world.
What were you born to do and be? Have you come to grips with the fact that you ARE ENOUGH? No? Well, no time like the present. Say it to yourself like a mantra. You are enough. Once you have that down you can begin the real work. Molding and shaping yourself into a person that lives intentionally everyday to be ENOUGH, to have the impact on this world that God intended. All you need is a little spit and polish AND WORK daily and intentionally to grow that "ENOUGH" to it's maximum height and beauty.
