Limitations

New Years Resolutions, the 2014 Winter Olympics, Lizze Velasquez, C.S. Lewis, my sister-in-law who ran a marathon recently, and others have been on my mind lately.  I know, that's a lot.  But I was thinking about all these things and how each of them have to deal with opposition.

Once someone makes a New Years Resolution, it usually goes out the window once February 1st comes around.  Those who are in the 2014 Winter Olympics had to (and still have to) work and dedicate themselves like crazy in order to even compete.  Lizzie Velasquez was labeled the Ugliest Girl in the World.  C.S. Lewis' conversion story is amazing.  And my sister-in-law who ran a marathon ran it against all odds (her husband's in nursing school, she teaches piano lessons to over 20 students, and she has three kids four years old and under). 

All these things are really inspirational and motivational if you think about it.  What are the odds that someone would be successful enough to compete in the Olympics?  What are the odds that, despite her syndrome, Lizzie Velasquez would become a motivational speaker, as well as achieve 90% of her goals?  What are the odds that someone actually accomplishes the goals they set for the new year?  What are the odds that my sister-in-law would find time to run a marathon?  And what are the odds that C.S. Lewis would end up believing in God?

It seems that the success of others usually comes with a lot of opposition.  And, sadly, I think a lot of that opposition comes from those around us.  Lizzie Velasquez described the comments people made when someone labeled her the ugliest girl in the world.  One person said she should do the world a favor and shoot herself.  I couldn't believe that!  Why would anyone tell someone else to kill themselves just because of outward appearance?  Sadly, that person doesn't realize that it's not about outward appearance; it's about your inward beauty.  Before the Lord chose David as the king of Bethlehem, he said to Samuel of David's brother, "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord ^aseeth not as ^bman seeth; for man looketh on the outward ^cappearance, but the ^dLord looketh on the ^eheart" (1 Samuel 16:7).  When it really comes down to it, the Lord doesn't care about outward appearance.  I truly believe Lizzie Velasquez is beautiful because of her positive outlook, her drive to succeed, and her cute personality.  She is, literally, one in a million.  And yes, I know what literally means :). (source http://clashdaily.com/2014/01/labelled-worlds-ugliest-woman-lizzie-velasquez-knows-god-sees-true-beauty/#FqjCJFXuvx7iX5D2.01)

I won't go into the other examples, but it's amazing how we, imperfect human beings can bring others down.  Why do we do this?  I think it's because we are intimidated by others' successes.  Because if others succeed where does that leave us?  Does that mean we're not being successful?  Maybe it's because their accomplishments remind us of our unmet goals which causes us to react negatively as a defense mechanism. Whatever the case, I think we should follow President Uchtdorf's advice and just "Stop it" (watch the video here - it's really good and it's only three minutes :)).

It's okay if someone wants to have nine kids in 11 years.  It's okay if someone wants to run an Ironman when he or she is 23 years old, in graduate school, and has a family.  It's okay if someone from a small town wants to go to an Ivy League school.  It's okay if someone wants to, against all odds, become a singer, actor, mother or father, dancer, fireman, astronaut, musician, president of the United States, founder of a successful business, writer, and many other things.

I think we have enough opposition without discouragement from others.  We have enough opposition without others bringing us down and saying, "You're crazy!" or "Maybe you should shoot for a smaller, more do-able dream."  Why should we limit ourselves? 

I have to remind myself to not be a discouragement and an opposition to those around me.  Just this semester, my husband told me his goals, and I was like, "Are you sure?  Remember last semester when it was really hard?  Maybe you could do this instead..."  Then I thought about my own New Years Resolutions and the goals I want to accomplish and the things I wish I would have done but didn't because I didn't think I was someone who could do something great or unexpected.  I thought, "Why am I limiting Jayze?  Shouldn't I, of all people, be rooting for him?  Cheering him on when no one else will?  Believing in him when no one else does?"  Yes, I should be that person to cheer him and other people on.  Just because other people succeed doesn't mean that I can't.  It doesn't mean they are better than me or that it's an "in your face" type of thing.  People succeed because they have this driving force and driving desire to succeed.  And because other people are intimidated, they try to put others' dreams to rest.  They try to put their fire out.

I, for one, want to be the one who says, "Oh, you're running a marathon?  Good for you!"  Or, "You made a goal to sing in American Idol?  I'll vote for you!"  Or, "You're in the middle of writing a book?  Let me know when it comes out so I can read it!"  Or, "You want to accomplish [goal]?  Well, what's your plan to accomplish that?  How can I help support you?"

There are so many positive things we could say to others that can help them maintain and even grow their burning desire to succeed.  I hope that I can keep that mindset and be positive and supportive of other people's successes as well as succeed at my own goals.