“How are you?”
Perhaps the most common question we get asked daily. No matter what’s really happening in your life, the most common response is…
“Fine.”
Sometimes that’s true. However, if you’ve been living long enough then you know that most times it’s a straight out lie. You may be hurting, depressed, in bondage to anxiety, dealing with betrayal from a loved one, don’t know how you’re going to pay your bills, down to your last $2, worried about your mother whose just been diagnosed with breast cancer but to everyone else you’re “fine.”
You’ve convinced yourself that you’re fine and even if you know that things are not fine, you will not dare admit that because after all, you’re a woman who is supposed to be “strong.”
This type of thinking and behavior is exactly what keeps us in bondage to our struggles. We ALL struggle and the lie is that you’re alone, but I’m here to tell you that you’re not.
Sometimes we want to show off our successes to inspire others but people are more inspired and ministered to by our struggles. There is something powerful that happens when you share similar struggles with someone else and comfort them with these words “me too.”
Today, I was inspired to write this by hearing pastor Steven Furtick speak on the power in “me too.”
Can you really relate to someone who has never had any problems, success came easy to them and life has never handed them a sour lemon? I think not! But when that woman that you look up to shares her deepest struggles with you she becomes a beautiful human being instead of an idol.
I don’t know about you but I can’t stand to listen to leaders, inspirers, teachers, speakers, pastors who act like they got it all together all of the time. I’m attracted to transparency and those are the BEST leaders and motivators.
I’m not sure what your struggle is right now but I’m here to tell you “me too.” I know what it feels like to be betrayed by your own personal Judas, in so much pain that all you can do is cry yourself to sleep in fetal position, tormented by fear and worry, feeling so rejected and alone that you feel like the only way out is a permanent solution and so broke that you can’t even afford a $3 coffee.
Yep, me too. When most people see me they wouldn’t think I’ve experienced and still am currently experiencing certain struggles. But prior to particular struggles in my life, I was arrogant as most of my life everything was handed to me. I know now what it means to wake up in the morning and have to make a conscious decision to choose joy because sadness, disappointment and hopelessness is creeping into your soul.
I’m now filled with compassion because I know exactly what struggle feels like. The struggle may be real but your struggles have more power than you may believe. This is your opportunity to be able to tell someone else, “Hey, me too!”
Your friend may have just lost her mother, you lost your mother a year ago so you know far too well the pain that she’s experiencing. You can empathize with her on an entirely different level. You’ve battled depression for most of your life and now you’ve been set free. Your ability to say “me too” to young student in your classroom can probably be the catalyst to change her life around. That addiction, that pain, that hurt, that brokenness, those failures, that temper, those disappointments, those hard seasons, the times you’ve looked for change in your coach just so that you can have enough for lunch are all a part of your “me too.”
Someone needs to hear your “me too”, someone (not everyone) needs you to get a little vulnerable and share your struggle. Use your struggles as stepping stones to lead you and empower you into your destiny.
Embrace the power in your “me too.”
XOXO,
Maria I. Melendez
@embraceherlegacy
