The Feeling of Inadequacy

I work for a law enforcement agency, and one night I had a call from one of the patrol officers. “Can you look and see where I’m scheduled tomorrow?” he asked. I checked, and it showed he was the corporal the following day. For those not aware, a corporal generally will assume leadership duties when a sergeant or higher are not available. “Yep,” he continued once I told him, “the sergeants all have to be in class. Guess it’s a good thing I decided not to take a sergeant position.” He went on for several minutes about how clever he is and how the sergeants probably all wish they were him right about then. Even though I was already well aware, it was pretty evident that he wanted to make sure I knew how just how important he was.

While this sounds a bit extreme, we’ve all found ourselves seeking approval and trying to impress others. Feelings of inadequacy can and do affect people from all walks of life, and it is important to not only realize the warning signs and symptoms, but what to do when you find yourself feeling like you’re inadequate or don’t measure up.

Some people try to hide when their feeling inadequate by boasting and having an exaggerated self- image. Just like officer mentioned before, I have a family member who somehow always seems to be the expert in whatever we may be having a conversation about and it’s difficult for them to admit they don’t know something. They try to hide their insecurity with a false sense of confidence.

Some people may do the opposite and avoid showing others what they're truly capable of. In these people’s minds, if others don’t know what their best really is, then their best can never be not good enough. I personally know someone who could do much more than they are, but their feelings of inadequacy and insecurity limit them to doing just enough so they never make waves.

If you find yourself feeling inadequate, insecure or down on yourself, it is important to pinpoint that thinking and take control over it. Feelings that you do not deal with will deal with you. Remember that we are people and we all have our own problems in life. You should never compare yourself with someone else. As someone once said, “You’re comparing someone else’s highlight reel with your behind-the-scenes footage.” You don’t know what personal trials those people had to overcome or are still challenged by.  We should also never fail to be thankful for what we have. I know personally that God has blessed me abundantly more than I ever deserved, and there have been many times in my life when God has made a way for me when I couldn’t see one. As I’ve learned to lean on and trust in Him, I’ve been able to take the responsibility for my future off of my own shoulders and begin to hand it over to Him.  It is a liberating feeling to know that God’s got your back if you’ll only let Him. Finally, don’t forget that God is still working on you. If you're condemning yourself for past mistakes or feel like you’re not good enough because of something that’s happened in your life, it’s important to remember how important you are to Him. You were born with a purpose, and God believes that you are the best and only person for the job.

Once you start to get a hold of how important you already are, you’ll find that you won’t need the approval of others. When you begin to develop a real sense of confidence based on your identity, and you’ll find the right people will be drawn to you.

Astrology in the Bible?

I've always been a bit of a science geek. I'll nerd out on physics, computers, biology- you name it. Out of all the sciences, the one I've always enjoyed most is astronomy, which is the branch of science that examines celestial space and the entirety of the physical universe. Imagine my interest then, when … READ MORE

Tropical Storm Cindy

Anyone from this area already knows that tropical storm Cindy will make it ashore some time this evening. While it looks like our area will be sparred from the worst of the rain, parts of Galveston Island are already flooding and high winds (in excess of 40mph) are likely for the next day or so. Please take extra caution over the next 24 to 36 hours. Click the link below for the latest:

Latest from weather.com

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Surprise Guests

We noticed a bird decided to build a nest near the top of our pergola on the back porch where the jasmine is growing. The constant chirping and squeaking from the nest is a dead giveaway to the fact that its eggs have recently hatched. Upon investigation, it turns out that the  mamma hatched two baby chicks. We researched what type of bird it is, and it turns out we have a family of Northern Mockingbirds living by our back door- which happens to be the state bird of Texas. It has been a very cool and intimate experience watching the baby chicks grow from day to day. We even notice differences in their personalities. As long as we don't disturb them, the mother doesn't seem to mind us coming or going.

New Facebook Profile

We've decided to start a new Facebook profile as a companion to this Blogger page. We've been trying to avoid Facebook, but I know its easier for some folks to keep up with other people there; especially if they already have a profile and they're simply scrolling through their newsfeed. You can click on the link below and add us, or simply keep visiting this page.

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Subjugation of Women

I’ve noticed that as the years go by I am exposed to more and more people who, for one reason
or another, seem to cling to the idea that it is correct to subjugate women. One area that this is especially evident is the idea that women are less than and are somehow unable to do or are unfit for certain roles and responsibilities in the Kingdom of God. I first encountered this type of mindset talking with a coworker one day. “My daughter needs to leave her church!” they told me. Intrigued, I asked, “Why?” “Because,” they told me, “they’re letting a woman speak during service! Next thing you know, they’ll take her good Christian church and throw it on its head!” Colorful metaphors aside, I’ve heard several people voice a similar opinion... read more.

New Plants In The Yard

Recently, we a big enough break in the rainy weather to finish adding plants to our backyard. After I finally finished cutting down the stump from the free we removed, it was time to spruce the area up. We added a Purple Magic Crape Myrtle (shown top), a Foxtail Palm (shown above) and two different colors of Oleanders. We also moved a variety of smaller plants. Although there's always more to do, it looks fantastic and everything is happy and growing in the locations we have picked out for them. The Pomegranate tree even decided it needed to make more fruit and is producing a 2nd round of flowers- the first time its ever done so.

The Hateful Letter

I was talking with somebody, and they asked that I post the hateful letter from my dad again.  Here is the link: the hateful letter.

I Glimpse Into My Heart

After putting my girls to bed, I thought of my love for them and how thankful I am for them. As I began to brush my hair before bed, I thought of the little freckle on Alexi's little face, and Alissa's small feet that she proudly likes me to kiss and how they make me smile. Looking at myself in the mirror, I wished I would have had someone to love me with that same kind of love when I was a child.