In this podcast Episode, David & Caron Loveless discuss “When Enough Is Never Enough.” Many of us are always trying to achieve and accomplish more. There is great value in this and then there can emerge a dark side to it.

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Here is a brief summary of today’s episode of “The Live True Podcast.”  You can use this as a reference or reminder of key things you feel like you need to pay attention to or pass on to others, in the next 7 days of your life.

Earlier this week, I wrote a blog on leadership and the cost of a national championship.  At the end of it, I promised you a more in-depth discussion on the subject.

The Story of Urban Meyer and the parallel story of David Loveless is described in this podcast.

We’ve come to realize that the majority of the stress we’ve carried over the years, was completely of our own making. We had a significant hidden ‘driver’ inside. We needed to prove that those who believed in us were right… and those we perceived didn’t believe in us, were wrong.

Here are three observations we’ve made, when it seems like there is so much to do… and so little time… and enough never seems to be enough.

 1) We can feel like we’re not doing enough of the right things

It’s easy to feel guilty for things we haven’t done enough of… like spending time with our kids… parents… friends… exercising… or getting enough promotions over the years… or having the best job, etc….

Sometimes, we feel like we haven’t lived up to our ” full potential.” But, who actually knows our full potential? Who knows what we’ve been designed to do and be in this world?

It’s a funny thing, “potential “- when we reach what was the last notch of our fullest potential, the mark mysteriously moves and we must strive for a whole new level. And we do this do this again and again.

We were created for a specific purpose that God has for us to do.  We are to represent him here on this earth. But in the midst of seeking to accomplish that purpose, we can quickly take on other assignments that were never given to us and quickly find ourselves feeling like we’re not doing enough of the right things.

 2) We can end up doing the wrong thing

None of us wake up in the morning thinking: “I’d just like to go out there and do something stupid.”  But sometimes, as we seek to do the right thing, we end up getting it wrong.

This is what happened to Adam and Eve.

Being purposeful and productive has always been huge a huge value for me (David). For as long as I can remember, I felt there was a special reason for my life. I thought God made me to do something good and I was determined to be out there, everyday getting it done in a big way. I got a lot of satisfaction from that.

But there was a nagging problem. My accomplishments never seemed big enough. They didn’t match the vision in my head. I’ve been told all my life that I had so much potential. And, I felt guilty that maybe I wasn’t doing all I was fully capable of.

The God-side of me always wanted to help as many people as possible find a loving relationship with him. And I was doing that. It was an authentic, driving passion in my own life and I wanted to see it happen for others. Eventually, the  church I led grew in size and stature, and what should have felt like joy at the accomplishment of a worthy goal, just made me  feel whipped, as well as feeling the need to start looking for next big hill.

Overtime all this put enormous stress on my body,

my emotional state, my marriage, and it created a vulnerability

that led to the greatest failure of my life.

The metaphor of downshifting vs overdrive is described in detail in this podcast.

3.) We’ve got to learn to embrace the experience of doing our best 

When we think of someone who knew the answer to the question of: “What am I here to do?… and am I doing enough of it” …we think of the one who founded and initially led, the greatest enterprise in history- Jesus.

Jesus was ambitious and he got humanly tired from a days’ work. But he didn’t try to heal everyone everywhere he went. He could have reached many more people, had an even greater impact if he had just tried harder, had more meetings, and met the right people.

Yet, even at age thirty-three he had the presence of heart to say in prayer as his martyrdom approached, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” John 17:4

Jesus lived and worked out of a perpetual connection with and assurance of his relationship to God his Father. He was so secure in that relationship that there was nothing for him to prove to himself or to anyone else.

When you already have the approval of the King of Heaven

what more can the world offer you?

So, how can we do our work well, without powering up into striving mode?

The word from heaven on Jesus is “ I am well pleased with you.” Again, Jesus has done nothing notable.  He has not healed anyone.  He has not spoken his first word to the multitudes.  He hasn’t fed the masses.  But, God is already smiling.

This totally messes with us. We live in a work- for -reward culture. The more hours you put in the more folks love you. We try to be impressive in hopes of earning “well done.”  Eventually, we will learn that the treadmill of achievement and power brings no lasting satisfaction. It might bring a nice pay check but where is the satisfaction and fulfillment?

As leaders we need to see our achievements through the long term lens of God’s pleasure with us, that’s based on participating in relationship with Him instead performing for Him or others. This connection can’t be added to or taken away no matter how high up you go in your company, or how many albums you sell, or hits you get on YouTube.

Here are some questions as you think about your own need to achieve:

• What are you afraid you will miss out on if you don’t accomplish more things?
• What words are you listening to hear about your achievements from someone important?
• Do you have the need to feel powerful, not vulnerable, and your accomplishments give you a sense of power?
• Do people say you’re always pushing? Against things, circumstances, other people?
• Is “weakness” a bad word to you? Is independence a big value for you?
• Do you think others won’t notice you unless you exert yourself in a big way?
• Are you often motived to get things done because of anger that things are not being done right out there?

Success, when it does come, tends to be relatively short-lived.

That means that we’re all thrown back on ourselves sooner or later.

When that day arrives we have no choice but to find something

more lasting to pin our hopes on.

Scott London

Resources mentioned in this podcast

Our new book, Nothing to Prove will be out in soft cover in just a few weeks and in it we share candidly about the huge breakdowns and breakthroughs we have experienced in this area of achievement and many other areas.

Join the waiting list for this important book and be notified as soon as it’s available.  CLICK HERE.

To find out more, listen to this podcast in its entirety by clicking on the play button.

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