Something strange happens after someone reaches a certain level of success: we just assume those people have always been successful or born with a silver spoon in their mouths.

But that’s typically NOT the case! And while I can’t speak for anyone else, I can tell you about me: I grew up on welfare, in a violently-abusive home, with all the odds stacked against me. Absolutely NOTHING in my childhood positioned me for the success I’ve been able to achieve!

As a child, we often had Wonder Bread with margarine and garlic salt, because my mom and stepfather made poor financial decisions, choosing drugs over food. There were always drugs (and drug dealers) in our home, along with constant abuse. I was grabbed by the throat, shoved against walls, and kicked across the room by my stepfather – a 350-pound-man who wore size 16 shoes. His severe beatings put my mom in the hospital many times.

And why did this keep happening? Because she didn’t know she was MORE! She allowed herself to be pushed around and her destiny crushed. Because, when you don’t KNOW you are more, you settle. When you don’t know you are more, you accept your circumstances… instead of changing them.

I know you’re saying, “Dani, what do you mean ‘MORE’? What does that even MEAN?!?”

You are MORE than your past… MORE than your failures… MORE than your circumstances… MORE than your successes… MORE than your struggles… MORE than your job title… you are MORE.

How you see yourself, determines how you see others. How you see your family, friends, coworkers, clients and even strangers, has everything to do with how you see yourself. Why? Because as a man thinks, so is he! We actually create our own reality, based on how we think about ourselves.

My own “reality” and its impact on how I saw myself, should have never led to me to people and places I’ve seen. I’m STILL shocked every time places as far-flung as Honduras, Russia or Israel, invite me to address highly-influential people. Those interviews and media appearances, I’ve done for “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “Fox & Friends,” Forbes or those nine crazy days on ABC’s “Secret Millionaire,” just blow me away!

And now, this latest appearance, caught me completely off-guard. I was so honored to part of an uplifting episode of the “Steve Harvey” show… and the stories of the other guests moved me so deeply. And, despite the fact I’ve done hundreds of interviews and press conferences, every single time, I think, “Really?! How did this even happen to ME?!”

This was not supposed to be my life! I never believed people like me could succeed at anything. And if it weren’t for the God I serve, I wouldn’t be where I am today! I found my identity in Him, my Father – NOT my mother and the stepfather who raised me. My identity didn’t even come from my earthly father, who I have an amazing relationship with now, despite a rocky start.

But when I truly found my identity within my heavenly Father, I knew I was more than my past, more than my mistakes, more than my circumstances, more than the statistics.

And, my friend, your identity is not wrapped up in your business, employees, bank account or family. It’s not found in your role as a parent, a spouse, a son or daughter, a member of your community. You are so much MORE than that!

Do you get that?! When you understand you are MORE… you begin to step into your true identity. You step into the “more” you were created to be! God chose you as a vessel for such a time as this! You were born to overcome. You were born to demolish any barrier put in your path. You were born to be a champion!

You are called to someplace greater than where you are right now, something greater than what you’re doing right now. You were not anointed for the status quo, to be the same as everybody else! You were not destined to fit in, to settle, to be mediocre. You were not meant to live behind the façade of success, faking a lifestyle designed to make others THINK you’re successful… all while you secretly struggle and strive, just to live a lie.

You are more than that. You have a bigger calling! The world needs you to understand YOU ARE MORE! Because when you know you are more, you think, act, walk and talk like you are MORE.

And knowing you are more, allows you to see others as MORE. You begin to see their potential. You can call out their destiny, cause them to rise up, step into their own identity and become MORE themselves.

If someone like me, who started out broken, beaten, abused, abandoned, neglected, unloved, hated, a failure, stupid… to then learn who I AM and who I was created to BE, what are YOU waiting for?

Let this message really sink in today: You ARE MORE. If you’ve never had someone tell you this before, here’s your turning point: You ARE MORE. If you’re weary and unsure whether things will ever turn around for you, know this: You ARE MORE!

Okay, now share this amazing feeling with a few people who need to hear this, too! Who could use some encouragement? Who needs that extra boost to get through a tough time and emerge stronger? Pass this along to them now!

Then, be sure to tune in for our weekly Spiritual Equipping episode of The Dani Johnson Show today for more biblical insights and inspiration. You can find the show on your TV and radio and please remember you can always stream today’s show right here on our website.

In great faith,

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