You Decide, Not Them

"We have to realize that there will always be critics and naysayers in life.But other people don't have to believe in you ... other people don't set the limits to your life - you do. It's not what others say about you that affects your life, but what you say and believe about yourself." ... Joel Osteen 

There’s no question it’s sometimes hard to maintain your belief in yourself at a high level. Disappointments affect us, as do work and personal challenges. Situations that occur leave us wondering. Worry about tomorrow or about others can be a weight on us, too.

But Osteen speaks of the impact that other people have on us, especially in terms of belief. We may all have critics or we may just think we do. Either way, they affect our thoughts and in the worst cases, they may steal our dreams and undercut our goals. It is if and when we allow them to have that much power that we fail ourselves.

You are your best voice. You may ask for counsel or understanding, but clearly you have the ultimate power over your life. And importantly, over your own life limits. Whether a young person striking out to a new location, an adult changing a career path or a retired person finding a new mission, only you can set the limits to your future. And the fact is, God does not set limits. He encourages you to be in charge, but He is there supporting your belief … I pray we all take that responsibility for our own belief seriously. After all, we’re the first ones who can.