The Wisdom of Michael Irvin

#198

Friend,

“There are at least 2 people in everybody. The one you show everybody and the one you show nobody.” Michael Irvin

I don’t normally go to Hall of Fame WR Michael Irvin for wisdom, but here it is.

We have that person in us that we project that we believe others will see, value, esteem, and love. We also have that person in us that we protect, believing that if others see it, then we will be unworthy, disgusting, and unloved.

Projecting and protecting take a lot of energy. No wonder you are so weary.

Life is not intended to be a constant oscillation between projecting and protecting, but instead a life of integrity. The goal is a stable sense of who you are that can adapt to various contexts and situations (if you are a loud person, then you should adapt at a funeral to not be the center of attention).

Shame is the motivator for protecting and projecting. The antidote to shame is grace (a deep sense of confidence that you are loved by a generous God, no matter what you do). When we are rooted in the love of God for us and in us, then we don’t feel the need to hide in isolation or hide in a mask; we simply are.

Shame may have a lot of power, but we believe that grace is greater. You don’t have to pretend by projecting and protecting; instead, you can be the beautiful, wonderful, and yes, even flawed human that God created, loved, and died for.

Love,

Aaron