Embrace Your Gifts Over Idolizing Someone Else’s Gifts
Have you ever found yourself closely following someone else's life—like an athlete, influencer, or celebrity—so much that you start to question your own? You might know their highlights, statistics, and even their story better than you know your own journey.
This week, I want to address that hidden feeling of insignificance that can bloom when we admire others more than we invest in our own growth. God didn’t create you to be a spectator in someone else’s life; He designed you with a unique path, gifts, and calling.
Recently, I encountered a common reality that many of us face: we often focus on people who inspire, entertain, employ, or educate us. We develop a fondness for those who excel in their areas of expertise. These talents and skills can influence our society in various ways—both positively and negatively.
This phenomenon has become an epidemic. I, too, have fallen prey to it. Much of this stems from societal conditioning, shaped by media, sports figures, entertainers, teachers, and celebrities—especially those who have forged their own paths in their respective fields. Growing up, I often wanted to emulate certain athletes or animated characters because of what they symbolized. For instance, I admired LeBron James; I wanted to be tall, fast, and strong like him and make a significant impact in sports.
I studied his statistics, trying to mirror them. In essence, I was comparing my life and gifts to someone who was born with unique abilities meant for his own journey. My idolization of him became so extreme that I wanted to wear the same jersey number and replicate everything he did on the court.
My first awakening to this tendency occurred during the 2014 NBA Finals when I realized how deeply I had idolized him. The Miami Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks, and I was shocked that such a talented team could lose to a group of older veterans who, though good, had less overall talent. The situation was confusing and disappointing, especially with LeBron being arguably the best player in the NBA at that time.
I felt a wave of disappointment wash over me. I was angry and frustrated, especially when it appeared that LeBron had mentally checked out of the series and wasn’t contributing to his team’s success. It was as if I was vicariously living through him, depending on his performance to validate my abilities in my own life.
You might wonder why I’m sharing this seemingly story from my teenage years, but the lesson is one that can resonate with many people.
You may think you're not living through someone else to validate your self-esteem, but it's easy for that to happen without you even realizing it. You might have someone—or an institution—serving a similar role in your life.
Here are five signs to look out for if you or someone you know finds themselves in this situation:
1. You Know Their Stats—But Not Your Strengths
Watch for: Obsessively following their journey, but unsure of your own direction.
Impact: You become a sideline supporter of someone else’s purpose.
Truth: You weren’t created to be an echo of greatness—you were called to carry your own.
2. You Speak Their Dream More Than Your Calling
Watch for: Saying “I wish I could be like them,” more than “What’s God calling me to do?”
Impact: Your vision gets cloudy, your voice gets quiet, and your value feels tied to someone else’s success.
Truth: God didn’t give you their platform, because He gave you your purpose.
3. You Imitate Their Moves Instead of Developing Your Own
Watch for: Mimicking their habits, walk, style, or grind—but ignoring what flows naturally for you.
Impact: You chase identity instead of cultivating authenticity.
Truth: The Kingdom doesn’t need duplicates. What you bring is just as necessary.
4. You Feel Like You’re Behind—But You’re Not Even in Your Race
Watch for: Constant pressure to “catch up” or “do more,” without knowing why.
Impact: Burnout, discouragement, and feeling like your life has no meaning outside of their shadow.
Truth: God graces assignments, not idols. Peace follows purpose, not performance.
5. You Glorify Their Journey, But Minimize Your Story
Watch for: Feeling like your background, talents, or path isn’t “as special.”
Impact: You begin to resent your own journey—and that stalls growth.
Truth: God doesn't waste anything. There is greatness hidden in your ordinary.
Live From Within: Discovering What God Planted in You
Focusing too much on external influences—whether it's athletes, influencers, celebrities, or even notable organizations—can slowly erode your sense of identity, peace, and purpose. If you’re not careful, what starts as admiration can turn into quiet comparison, leaving you feeling like your own story isn’t good enough.
Now let me be clear: there’s nothing wrong with having mentors or role models. In fact, we should be inspired by people who are walking with excellence. But when you start trying to follow their exact path instead of embracing your own, you lose sight of what makes your journey meaningful.
The truth is, God didn’t call you to be a copy—He called you to be a vessel. As soon as you begin operating from within, you'll start taking inventory of who you truly are. You'll uncover gifts, passions, and strengths that have been buried beneath the noise, waiting to be activated.
And once you do?
That’s when everything shifts.
The Breakthrough Isn’t External—It’s Internal
This inner switch doesn’t just change your circumstances—it changes your entire perspective. You’ll stop chasing someone else’s version of success and begin leaning into what God already placed inside of you. You’ll gain clarity. You’ll feel peace. You’ll walk with purpose.
Suddenly, your story, your struggles, and your strengths make sense. You’ll realize they were never random—they were woven together to prepare you for a purpose no one else can fulfill.
That’s when your gifts come alive.
That’s when doors begin to open—not because you forced them, but because you aligned with your identity.
So remember:
You don’t have to be someone else to be great.
You don’t have to copy their path to live a life that matters.
The world needs what God planted in you—and only you can deliver it the way you were designed to.
Today, I challenge you:
Stop scrolling, comparing, and idolizing.
Start listening, reflecting, and cultivating.
Start becoming who God called you to be.
Because when you live from within—rooted in your God-given identity—you won’t just be inspired by others…
You’ll inspire them.
7 Steps to Discover What’s Inside You
"Your calling isn’t found by looking out—it’s discovered by looking in."
Reflect on What Comes Naturally
Ask: What do I do well without even thinking about it?
These are your natural gifts.
Think about things you’ve always been good at—encouraging, organizing, teaching, solving problems, creating.
2. Identify What Brings You Life (Not Just Likes)
Ask: What lights me up—even if I don’t get paid for it?
Look for where joy flows freely. Maybe it’s mentoring, writing, building, designing, or helping people grow.
3. List Your Learned Skills & Life Experience
Ask: What have I been trained to do—formally or informally?
Don’t ignore your job, side hustles, ministry, or even hard life lessons.
📝 Pro Tip: Soft skills—like empathy, leadership, communication—are often your greatest assets.
4. Recall What Others Ask You For Help With
Ask: What do people come to me for without me even offering?
Your value is often clearer to others than it is to you.
Examples: creative input, advice, solving problems, encouragement, planning.
5. Uncover Your Core Values
Ask: What do I stand for? What truly matters to me?
These values guide how you express your gifts.
Examples: honesty, growth, creativity, freedom, faith, service.
6. Pinpoint Your Burden or Calling Area
Ask: What breaks my heart or stirs me to act?
Often your calling is tied to the burden God placed in your heart.
Examples: helping young men find purpose, supporting single mothers, building strong communities, healing trauma, mentoring student-athletes.
7. Pray, Meditate, + Journal It Out
Prayer Prompt:
God, reveal to me what you’ve already placed in me.
Journal Prompt:
What am I uniquely positioned to offer that could impact others and glorify You?
Turn Inventory Into Impact
Once you’ve written out your answers, circle 2–3 recurring themes.
Then ask: How can I begin serving with these starting today?
You don’t have to wait for a stage, a title, or permission.
Start where you are.
Serve one person.
Build one idea.
Take one bold step forward.
The world doesn’t need another copy.
It needs the real, called, and committed version of you.