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09
Dec
by Steve6 Comments »

Late Night Chat With My Mom

My mom is A-MAZ-ING! I was just reminded of the extent to which on a quick trip I made back home over this past weekend.

When I say “quick” trip…I mean quick.  I worked till 3:30 p.m. Friday at the seasonal gig then jumped in the car and drove across Iowa, arriving at about 10 p.m. at my parents’ house.  (Love you, Iowans, but I-80 seems to stretch FOREVER when driving across your state!)

Dad was already sleeping and mom and I started catching up.  Next thing I realized, it was 2:30 a.m!

The reason my mom is even more amazing to me as an adult than she was when I was a child is because she’s real.  She’s always been one of those people with pretty killer common sense and a wicked sharp memory.

When I was small, I thought my mom knew just about everything.  (She pretty much still does)  As an adult, however, she has showed me a chink or two in the armor; and I love her even more for it.

I struggle with insecurity about my abilities sometimes. I sometimes feel like I can’t focus well enough; and even though I’ve done a lot of things, I feel like I’ve failed to accomplish anything really significant.  Maybe all of us feel this way at some point.

On Friday night/Saturday morning, mom and I chatted about a mutual insecurity.  The startling thing to me was the way in which we each viewed each other.

I see mom as competent and in-control.  She sees me as someone who’s always got a dozen plates in the air and is able to keep them all spinning.

The greatest lesson I learned this weekend is that neither is true.

Moral of the Story?

Be cautious of the way you view yourself, good or bad, it’s probably not true.  Go out of your way to find out how others view you. If they have a higher estimation of you, your skills or your character, then adopt their beliefs until you have risen to accept their beliefs as your own.

Don’t be the you that you think yourself to be. Become the you which you truly are already and recognize how much confidence and power that gives you as you move forward!

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This entry was posted on Friday, December 9th, 2011 at 6:00 am and is filed under Personal Growth. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
  • http://profiles.google.com/garrettebrown Garrett Brown

    This is great advice. I dealt with this topic even this week. Generally, it’s easier to accept criticisms about our skills, instead of believing and being encouraged by compliments or praise. When I struggle with feelings of insecurity or insignificance, I tend to turn isolate myself, but I know it helps to talk it through with someone that is an encourager in my life. This week it was my older sister. She (like your amazing mom) showed me that even though we all deal with these moments of doubt and fear, we don’t have to submit to them.

    Appreciate the post, Steve.

    • http://www.KarmicKappuccino.com Steve Rice

      That’s a big lesson…one I think I’ll be learning and  re-learning the rest of my life!  

  • http://www.theheadologist.com/ Ellie Di

    This is something I’ve been learning these last few months as I’ve started becoming more of a public person.  Just this morning someone told me I was a creative powerhouse, and I was like, “What?”.  We get so wrapped up in our own interior criticisms that we don’t stop to think more objectively and get outside our brains.  Relax!  You’re doing fine!

    • http://www.KarmicKappuccino.com Steve Rice

      Exactly, Ellie….we seldom see ourselves like others see us.

  • Anonymous

    What a wonderful lesson, Steve! 

    It was right on time for me as well. Reading this post about your relationship with your mother, allowed me the memory of my own. Her and I would have similar talks; more so around the time she was diagnosed with cancer. The thing I remember and cherish the most is getting to understand the “dents” in my mother’s amour, and realizing that I had a few in my own. It’s was a humbling thing to come to grips with, but I’m so glad I was able to do so.

    Now, like you have mentioned here, I am ever being mindful to make sure that I’m not “getting to big for my own britches”; a way my mom used to remind me to be cautious of the way I’m seeing myself. Staying leveled and balanced.
    Loved the post man! Great stuff! :)  

    • http://www.KarmicKappuccino.com Steve Rice

      Thanks so much for sharing sweet memories of your mom.  That’s really wonderful.  I’m grateful that you had those moments with her.