I was in a large basement room we use for Vespers, a Sunday evening worship service held at Milligan College. I leaned against the wall waiting for my time to speak. This was my second time preaching in front of my college classmates and this group was, by far, the largest. I leaned against the wall partially listening to the worship music playing, praying a little, but mainly going through a mental checklist of what I wanted to say in my sermon. I was nervous and excited. I was ready to do this. I look down to double check that I have my Bible and sermon notes. Then the music stops, my friend makes his way to the front to introduce me.
It's time. I say to myself, "Just own it."
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One thing I noticed during college is that people lack confidence. My friends and classmates lack the courage to be confident in the things they do—when they take tests, give presentations, speak in front of others and many other tasks. Seeing their lack of confidence is shocking to me since I am a very confident person; many times it could be seen as hubris or prideful. I know what I am good at and I approach the things I am good at with confidence. I even approach the things I am not good at with confidence. I figure, if I am confident, trying will go well.
I apply this confidence to every area of my life. I see it appear the most in my life when I play ultimate frisbee. There are many times that a throw or catch does not seem possible to make. With confidence, I either throw the frisbee or attempt to make the catch. More often than not, the throw or the catch is made. All it takes is a bit of confidence. Just enough to take the chance.
In a world filled with the fear of failure, we become so scared and avoid doing things. What I am saying we should do is do it well, just own it. Be confident in your abilities whether you know how to do something or not. Just own it.
We cannot do much about which chances and opportunities will come our way. But what we can do is seize those opportunities with both hands and do our best with them. We just need to do our best with the opportunities given to us. We need to own it.
When you step on stage to give a speech, walk into a classroom to take a test, walk onto a field to play a sport or go into a room for an interview; just own it. Do it to the best you can do. If you give 100 percent when doing something, you will never be disappointed and you will be excited when you succeed.
So take the opportunities life gives you and just own it.
