Naivity

A handful of years ago, I found myself in an enormous time of growth professionally. I had left my “9-5” (I was in the restaurant industry, so it was never really 9-5, but you get the idea). I was exploring some different professional careers. One was in real estate, and one was a multi-level marketing nutrition company. While the products were different, both were very similar in their message: the world needed what I had to offer, and I needed to work hard to make it happen. One weekend, in particular, I remember sitting and listening to a successful CEO of some well-off business at a conference I was attending. I listened intently, hanging on to his every word. He was giving me the very keys to life, and I was not going to let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity pass me by, right? How else could I possibly have the secret to success?

Being a person who takes most at their word, I have an uncanny ability to fall easily sweet-sounding words and inspirational lectures. Some would call this gullible. Others might call this innocent. In any case, this is a naive way to live life. Listening to “successful” people, they would speak words I longed to hear. Whatever missing piece they possessed, I wanted to figure it out.

You can do it. Routines. Habits. Find your “why.”

I ate it up. I thought I wasn’t successful because my checkbook balance was low. I thought I wasn’t successful because when I spoke, people didn’t listen. I was missing something they had. The people directly in my life I was trying to emulate continued to speak words into me. I was trying hard to keep up. Often I was let down by their ulterior motives, typically driven by some monetary or power gain. Sometimes I was taken for a ride. When I woke on the other side, I was found left in a puddle of my own disappointment. I believed their words. My naivety left me beaten and bruised.

So what if I’m naive?

You see, I’m all in. I read the words of Jesus, and I’m all in to love well. I listen to all the podcasts and read all the books, and I am ready to rise. I wish for more hours in the day so I can do more. I believe the people around me want the same community I so long for. I’ve found I need community, that we need community. We exist to build each other up rather than to tear people down. Oh, I’ve learned to be skeptical of things I hear and read and who is around me. I’ve learned that not all have my best interests at heart. I’ve learned there are far more wolves than sheep in the world around me.

So what?

I will continue to love well. I will be wise but open, with my guard down. I will choose to believe the best of those around me because I hope others believe the best about me.

If you found value in this article, here are some additional articles for you.