I wouldn’t call myself a paranoid person. But there are times I find myself dwelling on irrational fears. For instance, sometimes when I’m driving my car on a nice day, I put my arm out the window to feel the cool air between my fingers. In that instance, a small fear creeps into my mind. What if a car comes by and severs my hand? How would I be able to write and do my job without a left hand? For the next few minutes, I imagine myself sitting at a computer with only one hand, pecking away like a hen at corn on the ground. Or I imagine I’ll have to hire a secretary who will write down all my thoughts as I dictate them to her. Of course I’ll need to become better at public speaking, otherwise the writing will be atrocious. I wrote so much better than I speak.
The paranoia is silly, and I eventually realize it is. But the paranoia also speaks to a false image I have of myself. I assume my worth is only found in my writing ability. I wrongly think that if I lost the ability to write, I wouldn’t be able to contribute anything of real value to the world.
The truth is, I’m more than just my ability to write. Just like you’re more than one ability, one value relationship, or one asset.
There are few people in the world whose success relies on just one facet of who they are. It’s frankly a tragic thing when someone’s whole value is wrapped up in just one thing, because that means they’re only one disaster away from losing everything they have.
Instead, most people’s value is made up of many little things that all contribute to make something bigger than the sum of its parts.
It’s time to start seeing yourself as more than just one skill, one ministry, one job, one relationship… You have value in so many different areas.