The Calm before the Storm/The Storm before the Calm

I had the nicest talk with my Dad over the past weekend. We talked about ourselves and our lack of self-esteem. The fact that even when others rave about our accomplishments, we don't feel content. How we don't feel that we are anything special and that we are not boastful.
I had heard a sermon that day where the speaker said that as human beings we tend to be very prideful whenever we are complimented and that we let it go to our heads and get all full of ourselves and put God aside. My dad agreed with me when I said I felt that we had the opposite problem. We don't feel boastful, we feel discontent. We also agreed that we need to find a happy medium, a place where we can feel that we are serving the Lord and that He is pleased with us. A place where we know that what we are doing pleases Him. We know that in our hearts, it's our minds that don't register it and let us relax. When we have too much to do we stress. When we have nothing to do we stress. What exasperating children we are to the Father! How he must shake his head at us and say - "Peace, be still and know that I am God & I love you just the way you are!"
It was very reassuring to me to know that I come by this trait of discontentment honestly - from my parents - and that I am not the only one that feels this way.
It was also good to know that I can say to my dad - "Is this how it makes you feel?" and he can say "Yes!" This in itself is a breakthrough in communication for the two of us!
All of this talk of discontentment oddly gave me a calming feeling that I longed to have. It helped me feel ok to know that I am not the only one that feels like this and that those that I hold in such high regard and love - those that are so incredibly talented, feel the same way I do.
I really feel that this insight will help me be more tolerant of myself and maybe have compassion for those around me. If I can feel ok about who I am and all my flaws, then I can be more tolerant of those around me and maybe, just maybe spread a little grace!