Courage to Accept My "Good Enough" Self

Hey self, what if the good-enough-Steve who actually “shows up” in a relationship is better than the perfect-Steve who can never show up, or the poser-Steve who shows up trying to be someone else, or the pleaser-Steve who shows up trying to be indispensable?

Steve, what if you just lived your life? What if you let God grow you along the way, so you can show up, love people, and let God sort out the rest?

Self, you don’t need to try to be perfect. That’s unattainable. This is the path of despair and loneliness. It’s striving and inadequacy.

Steve, you don’t need to impress people or try to be someone you're not. That’s futile. This too is the path of despair and loneliness. It’s inauthentic, deception. 

Self, you don’t need to please other people or try to solve all their problems. This is likewise impossible. This is also the path of despair. It’s exhaustion and unfulfilled expectations. 

Steve, what if you surrendered your will and your life to God? What if you could be set free of your defects and compulsions? What if you could let go of your fear and resentments? What if God freed you to live and love, and let the chips fall where they may?

Self, what if surrender was the path wholehearted living? What if surrendering and entrusting yourself to God meant you no longer needed to fear other people or your own shortcomings?

What if the good-enough-Steve who actually shows up surrendered to God’s will was the key to the grounded, gracious, hopeful, and tenacious life of recovery you envision?

-Steve M