3 QUESTIONS TO HELP US ACCEPT WHO WE REALLY ARE
Sometimes we want to be someone else.
It happens to the best of us. We see someone or something that we think should represent our life. It might be a nice car or name-brand clothing; perhaps a certain hobby or even a job or career.
For me, it’s always been personality traits or characteristics that I see in other people. I start to think my life would be better if I acted or spoke like that person. I would think differently and therefore, life would get easier or more enjoyable.
What a slippery slope.
We decide that these things should be associated with us. We see that these things would make our lives better. “If I only had that…if I only did that…if I only looked like that…then my life would have fulfilment.“
We tell ourselves,
“What they have is better. It’s better than my stuff, better than my interests and better than the things I do.“
However, if we’re not careful, these statements end with,
“They’re better than who I am.“
This is where it gets dangerous.
Don’t get me wrong; it’s okay to have nice things. Furthermore, it’s okay to choose a hobby or a career and become proficient in them. I’m specifically talking about trying to be someone or something that we’re not.
These things don’t fulfil our purpose in any way, yet we so often choose to chase them. Instead, we should chase what God has chosen for us; chase what God has purposed in us.
Do we believe Jeremiah 29:11?
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’“
As Christians, we quote this verse all the time, yet we struggle to truly believe the freedom found within its message.
It’s time to change this pattern.
As I’ve thought through this in my own life, I realize that the people closest to me can hold me accountable. They can speak truth into my life and keep me grounded. They see what I often can not see.
Those that love me, often tell me what God has been trying to tell me all along.
3 Questions To Help
Take a close friend, mentor or family member out for coffee. Ask them these 3 questions. Make sure to ask them to be truthful and not worry about possibly hurting your feelings.
You might not like everything you hear, but you will be better for it.
1. What 3-5 adjectives come to mind, that describes me?
Adjective: “A part of speech that describes a noun or pronoun. Adjectives are usually placed just before the words they qualify: shy child, blue notebook, rotten apple.” (Dictionary.com)
2. What 3-5 topics do I spend the most time discussing?
Topic: “A subject or theme of a speech, essay, book, etc, a subject of conversation; item of discussion, (in rhetoric, logic, etc.) a category or class of arguments or ideas which may be drawn on to furnish proofs.” (Dictionary.com)
3. What 3-5 possessions could I not live without?
Possession: “The act of possessing or state of being possessed in possession of the crown, anything that is owned or possessed, (pl) wealth or property.” (Dictionary.com)
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts:
What question would you add to the above list?
Thoughts about being someone else “better” than me or especially smarter than me seems to take up a lot of my thought capacity. Even though being smart is important, it’s not even comparable to who I am in Jesus. That is the most important aspect about me: who I am in Christ. But being in college, and studying engineering, I often lose sight of that because I m surrounded by people that are smarter than me and value that more than anything else. But my value is not equivalent to brain power, it’s equal to Christ’s power because He loves and I Him. I’m not saying I’ll not try hard in my classes or accept a bad grade, I’m saying my classes are not who I am, they’re what I do. Thanks for a good blog jeremy!
Remember that smarter does not always mean better, or useful for that matter. God has designed you for specific purpose. As long as you follow that, you’ll be just fine. Thanks for your thoughts Tim! Miss you bro.