Oprah says many people are held back from becoming who they were meant to be by shadow beliefs and feelings of unworthiness. Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, says “Believe in yourself more than you think you do.”
It’s Nadella’s statement that is so absorbing for me.
You always hear people say, “Believe in yourself”, or they might say they believe in you. If you choose to believe in yourself, it comes from the perspective of the ego. You are making a conscious effort to believe in whatever it is that you do or desire to do. On the other hand, when others tell you they believe in you, it’s the belief in what they hope for you.
But there’s something interesting about: Believe in yourself more than you think you do. The “more than you think you do” part is what does it for me.
I think this part of the statement is saying to believe beyond what you or I can consciously believe in. It requires a belief beyond our limiting ego. Usually, this belief would be in God or some higher power.
Accessing a higher belief is to move beyond the ego — what you can consciously think. It means to allow yourself to believe from a place of interconnected with the universe in whatever you do. You can’t force it, even if you wanted to, because it doesn’t come from you. It comes to you.
Champion gymnast Simone Biles tweeted on Wednesday that the supportive response to her withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics has made her realize she’s more than her sport.
“The outpouring love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before.”
Her statement is a testament to not just believing in yourself but truly loving yourself. Understanding that you are more than what you do. Because if that were taken away, who are you?
Simone, as well as tennis player Naomi Osaka, have both chosen to support their mental health which has caused hateful scrutiny and negative feedback. It is a never-ending struggle for Black women to exercise any level of self-care.
We are expected to organize and protest, protect our children and our communities, save democracy, neglect our well-being, and sprinkle the Black Girl Magic over everything. When we show any signs of wanting to take care of ourselves, it’s a problem. Simone and Naomi owe us nothing.
I felt sad that it took this situation for Simone Biles to realize she is loved and supported outside of her Olympic medals. She is worthy simply because she exists.
Truth is, people are going to talk about you whether you do something good or not so good. It’s not always easy to accept that, especially when you feel as though you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.
Remember, it’s their world – and their weight. None of it is yours. You have to do what is within your power to do, and then allow God do the rest. Your job is to know that you are worthy, simply because you exist in this world.