Your Best Life Now

02Overcoming Self-Doubt: Seeing Yourself as God Does

Ever felt like you're not good enough? Like you're always falling short, no matter how hard you try? We've all been there. But here's the thing: your self-image, or how you see yourself, plays a massive role in how you live your life. It's like a mirror reflecting back at you. If you see yourself as a failure, you're likely to act in ways that confirm this belief. But if you see yourself as capable and worthy, you're more likely to take actions that lead to success. Now, let's take this a step further. What if you could see yourself as God does? In "Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential," Joel Osteen introduces the concept of divine perspective. This is the idea that God sees us not as we are, but as we could be. He sees our potential, our worth, and our unique gifts. And when we start to see ourselves in this light, it can lead to a profound transformation. Take, for example, the story of a woman named Sarah from the book. Sarah had always struggled with low self-esteem. She saw herself as unattractive and unworthy of love. But when she started to see herself as God does - as beautiful, valuable, and loved - her life began to change. She started to carry herself with more confidence, which attracted positive relationships into her life. She pursued her dreams and found success in her career. All because she changed the way she saw herself. But how do we get there? How do we overcome the self-doubt that keeps us from seeing our true worth? Osteen offers practical steps to help us on this journey. First, we need to recognize and challenge our negative self-talk. When we catch ourselves thinking, "I can't do this," we need to counter it with, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Second, we need to surround ourselves with positive influences - people who lift us up rather than tear us down. And finally, we need to spend time in prayer and meditation, connecting with God and allowing His love to fill us and shape our self-image. The impact of a positive self-image on our lives can't be overstated. It can lead to improved relationships, career success, and overall happiness. Just like Sarah, when we start to see ourselves as God does, our lives can transform in ways we never thought possible. So, remember: you are not defined by your past mistakes or current circumstances. You are defined by God's love for you and the potential He sees in you. As Osteen says in his book, "You must make a decision that you are going to move on. It won't happen automatically. You will have to rise up and say, ‘I don’t care how hard this is, I don’t care how disappointed I am, I’m not going to let this get the best of me. I’m moving on with my life.'" And with that, you can start living your best life now.

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