In Accordance With Our Abilities
Yesterday was a coaching-heavy day for me, having met with four different couples. They ranged in age from 22 to 47, in take-home income from $4,000/month to $32,000/month, in debt from hundreds of thousands to no debt at all, and in belief from atheists to devout Christians. I talked about similar topics with each of them, and my advice was similar. However, one thing differed from client to client: I challenged them in accordance with their abilities.
For one couple, I encouraged them to dig in to pay off $1,000 in September. For another, I encouraged them to pay off $10,000. Similar conversations, different challenges. See, the couple I challenged to pay off $1,000 of debt would have broken had I pushed them to pay off $10,000. They don't yet have the ability (discipline, habits, conviction, and income) to make this happen. On the flip side, I would have done a disservice to the couple I challenged to pay off $10,000 had I only pushed them to pay off $1,000. Their current abilities are far beyond paying down $1,000.
One of the biggest criticisms I get on the podcast and the blog is that my ideas are too big, too drastic, too unrealistic, and too countercultural. I don't wholeheartedly disagree.....for some. That's the challenge of creating content for a wide swath of people. Some days, readers and listeners might absorb the content and think to themselves, "Duh, Captain Obvious!" Other days, an idea I share might spark something powerful within them that can possibly change the trajectory of their journey.
I'm in the seed-planting business. I plant seeds. I plant seeds and hopefully earn the right to water them. Sometimes, the seeds might never germinate. Sometimes, the seeds might sprout, but eventually not take. Then, other times, the seeds grow into something truly beautiful. On rare and special occasions, I get to actually see those moments when the seeds sprout, blossom, and eventually grow into something amazing. I never take those moments for granted. But whether I see it or not, I'm still in the seed-planting business.
Each of us is called to engage in accordance with our abilities. Today, that might be small. It might not feel like a big deal. It might even feel meaningless. However, as we grow, become disciplined, and gain experience, our abilities can grow. Then, we can push ourselves even more, which in turn helps us grow more. And the cycle continues.
Please don't compare yourself with other people. The only thing you should compare is how well (or not) you are harnessing your current abilities. That's it. That's the secret. Just you, your abilities, and a desire to grow in them.
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