Dr. Stan J. Tharp, MBA

I made a note from a podcast I heard recently that stated a truth I had already grown to love: “It’s ok to be a work in process.” In fact, I liked it so much I included this statement along with 9 others as one of 10 ‘wake up thoughts’ I try to tell myself (out loud) every morning.

Then, when having lunch with a friend of mine this week (on my way to teach a college class as an adjunct faculty member) we landed on the same idea. We are in the process of becoming as long as we live…or…we can be.

As one of my counseling professors used to say, stop ‘should-ing’ on yourself. Stop beating yourself up for what you “should” be over by now, how successful you “should” be by now, what you “should” have accomplished…you get the idea.

The truth is, you will never fully arrive at your perfect potential in this life, not today, not tomorrow, or 50 years worth of tomorrows from now. I can testify to that, I’ve lived a LOT of tomorrows, and I’m still a work in process…and I’m OK with that!

Rather than make that a depressing and defeating thought, turn it around, you can ALWAYS be in the mode of growing, learning and becoming. Sure, it’s a step or three forward and then a step or two back, but accept and celebrate “I AM A WORK IN PROCESS.”

Not figured it out yet? Still have issues? Sometimes still stuck? That’s ok, you’re growing, changing and becoming.

Admittedly, this first became a part of my minset due to my faith. The letter to the church in Phillipi in New Testament times that was written by the Apostle Paul puts it in a compelling way in chapter 1, verse 6. The Apostle encouraged and motivated them by saying these words that are a ‘life verse’ for me:

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it…”

Yep, even God knows you aren’t done yet, and never will be this side of Heaven. So smile, give yourself a little grace…you aren’t done becoming you yet! Stay at it, see each day as a new opportunity of becoming, and tell the person in your mirror, ‘today is a new opportunity to become more of who you were meant to be!’