What is stopping us from being great? Why do we keep selling ourselves short? We have proven ourselves time and again both as individuals and collectively as the Jewish people, time and again. Yet, no matter our past, we struggle to move forward confidently, filled with self-doubt. How do we face our fears and finally realize our full potential?
The answer lies in this week's Torah portion, Vayechi, the ultimate portion of the book of Breishis, Genesis. Vayechi means "and he lived" and refers to Yaakov, who spent the final seventeen years of his life in Egypt. These years were the best ones of his life even though he was living in a culture of promiscuity counter to Jewish values because his son Joseph, the viceroy of the Egyptian empire, was there to support him and his entire family, and they were, therefore, able to multiply and prosper.
Consider for a moment the challenges Joseph faced and how many opportunities he had to stop and throw in the towel. How often has life dealt him a bad hand, and how many years has he lived in the most challenging conditions imaginable? Yet, he never questioned that G-d had destined him for greatness and that everything he experienced would ultimately lead him to fulfill his destiny. This trust in Hashem and himself gave him the courage to keep pushing forward and never allow self-doubt or inadequacy to consume him. Joseph knew where he came from, the promise made to them and their ancestors before them.
We must also remember who we are and where we come from; our ability isn't determined by the challenges or limitations society seeks to place upon us. We are princes like Joseph; even when we're languishing in prison or targeted by hateful people, these are only momentary obstacles we must work through on the road to developing ourselves into the divine ambassadors G-d created us to be.
If you want to "live" life to the fullest, you must stop apologizing for who you are and live fully focused on the future, knowing that G-d has empowered you and destined you for greatness.