Labels and Expectations

Thank you to all those who have purchased Called Into Motion! I only got a copy in my hands yesterday and it is a kick for sure! I am honored by your interest and appreciate your presence in my life and work.

The posts this week have been based on a conversation between David Gergen, editor of U.S. News and World Report and Dr. Ben Carson, world-renowned neurosurgeon and author of The Big Picture: Getting Perspective on What's Really Important in Life. If you missed Monday or Wednesday, I hope you will take a few minutes to catch up.

Until he was ten years old Dr. Carson's nickname was Dummy. Here's what he says about that. "And one of the interesting things is, when I thought I was stupid, I conducted myself like a stupid person, and therefore I achieved like a stupid person; and when I was smart-- or I was smart all along, obviously-- but when I thought I was smart, I began to conduct myself accordingly and to begin to achieve accordingly." Go back and read that again. Think how this very same thought process has played out in your life, or the life of your child. Maybe not about being smart - how about fat, not athletic, shy, obnoxious, lazy, crazy, perfectionist,....? Or any other characteristic or label that was put on you, by yourself or someone else?

When I speak to groups of parents I use a wonderful video called Animal School. You can view it at www.raisingsmallsouls.com. All the animal parents decided to start a school. All the animal kids would, of course, study the same four courses: Running, Climbing, Swimming, Flying. Duck was great at swimming but only passable at flying and running - and hopeless at climbing. He spent swim class having a tutorial in climbing. Soon he lost his greatness at swimming and was still hopeless at climbing.

Squirrel got an A in climbing but his flying teacher made him start on the ground instead of in the treetops. His legs got so tired from practicing takeoffs all his grades suffered.

The eagle was labeled a "troublemaker" because he insisted on doing every subject his own way.
You get the idea. No two of us are the same. Each one of us is divinely created with a unique set of gifts and abilities. We don't think exactly the same, approach a problem in just the same way, perform or move in the same way, or experience things in precisely the same way as others. We do not have the very same desires, dreams, or goals as another.

When the animal kids had the exact same expectations put on each of them, regardless of design or ability, the whole animal community was negatively impacted. Those kids became "troublemakers", "socially inept", "underachievers", and all manner of negative things - none of it true. What is true is that we will often rise or fall to expectations and labels and the voice in our head.

Malcolm Forbes says, "Too many people overvalue what they are not, and undervalue what they are." Dr. Ben Carson agrees and believes it is one of the critical areas of our society. You are a one-of-a-kind blend of talents, personality, and ingredients not found anywhere else! Be YOU. go and SHINE! Work through the Audit Your Life and Rewrite Your Story lessons in my new book Called Into Motion: Lesson Plans for Life and let me know what you discover!
Blessings,
Beth