Who do you believe?
Do you believe what others say about you?
Do you believe what you say about you?
Do you believe what God says about you?
Who do you believe?
Eleanor Roosevelt said:
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
I remember asking Dad one time after an event how he felt when people would criticize him. At the event, several people complained about some of the things he said regarding his faith and when he offered one of his packages for sale.
Dad just smiled at me and said, "Son, if we don’t get some complaints, then we have not been bold enough or sold enough."
Dad didn’t live his life in fear of what others might say. In fact, Dad knew and believed what God said about him, and he accepted and believed that as truth. Because of this, when others attacked him (and this was often, by the way) it never affected him. I never once saw him react or get angry, even at personal attacks.
Here is why: (a little insight into Dad’s thought process)
- God said this about me
- It must be true
- I believe it
- They are attacking what God said
- Therefore, they are attacking God, not me
- God is big enough to handle it
- Next…
Who do you believe?
I encourage you to consider aligning your beliefs with what God says about you – and really believe it.
I would ask Dad after a speech, if it went well did he get a good response, and was he pleased with it.
His answers always amazed me. He never judged a talk by how many standing ovations he got – and he got a lot. Instead, he judged it this way:
- Did I prepare enough?
- Did I give it 100% effort?
- Did I share God’s truth in love?
Dad focused on what he could control, and he made his standard God’s standard, not the world’s standard.
Because of what he believed about himself, and what he chose as his performance standards, he was able to live a worry-free life!
The next time someone criticizes you personally for any reason, just use Dad’s checklist. Instead of getting angry or feeling offended, you will instead find yourself feeling sorry for the person who is attacking you. You see, they are attacking you because they do not believe what God says about them, and that is truly a very desperate state to be in.
If they are criticizing your performance (not you), then ask yourself the three questions Dad would use to judge his performance.
A thought for our Zignificance readers who do not believe in God. I am so glad you are here! What you believe about yourself is absolutely essential, and Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote still rings true.
You are Born To Win, so go ahead and Live To Win!
Tom Ziglar
P.S. Quote of the Day: "You are born to win, but in order to be the winner you were born to be, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and then and only then, can you expect to win." Zig Ziglar
P.P.S. Christmas is almost here! We have life-changing Ziglar products on sale, and if you want them delivered on time you must act now! Check out our Christmas gift guide.