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Talent Bashing

     Do you have a talent?  One that you hope to do something great with?  Here is my tip to you:

Don't bash it.
 
     I am serious.  How many people down-play the very talent they want to go far with?  "I'm not that good."  "I could have done better, but..."  "My end product is awful."  "I don't know that I will ever be great."
 
     Why do we say these things?  Because we are scared?  Scared of what it would take to be great.  Scared of people thinking that we are not as great as we hoped.  Just plain scared.
 
     What good does it do to bash it?  Does it help you succeed?  Does it make your talent better in some way?  Does it actually do any good whatsoever?
 
No.
 
     Bashing your talent disrespects the One who gave you the talent.  Hiding in fear instead of pursuing it in faith does the same thing.  I challenge you to only speak well of the gifts you have been given.  Don't let those words of fear out of your mouth.
 
     Try saying other things instead.  "I will be good at this."  "I did my best this time, and I will do even better next time."  "My end product is great."  "I will be excellent in my field."
 
     I am not talking about being prideful.  You are smart enough to know when you are being proud and when you are just being grateful for a gift you have been given.  Who are you praising when you speak?  Yourself?  Or God?  There is a difference.  Figure it out.
 
     And, in the meantime, accept my challenge and don't bash your talent.
 
 
Quote of the day:
"If you can't say somethin' nice, don't say nothin' at all." -- Thumper (quoting his father) on the Disney movie Bambi.


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