DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE - 5 WAYS TO SEE THE TRUE YOU

It starts with seeing.

How you view yourself directly impacts how you feel about yourself. 

Have you ever met an animal who behaves like another animal? Like a pot belly pig who thinks he’s a dog or a turkey that barks? They have taken on an identity that wasn’t in the original design.

They adopt the behaviour of another species – and sometimes that’s cute. But when we believe we are someone we are not,  and take on an identity that was not intended – we become confused.

The first step to knowing yourself, is knowing the one who created you, and designed you with all your unique qualities. You were made on purpose and for a purpose. Do a "check in" with the architect on the designs. He holds the blue print.

"Change your thoughts and you change your world." Norman Vincent Peale

When homeowners try to keep their home really safe, they sometimes will install gates and fences around the perimeter to keep unwanted things out. When it comes to our heart and minds we don’t often understand the power we have to be a gate-keeper. We all have automatic thoughts. Like pop corn thoughts that pop into our minds. But if you picture those thoughts as needing an invitation to stay – you have a choice of what to do with that thought.  You choice is to keep it, entertain it, or to keep it outside the gate. Entertaining that first sinful thought that pops into your head is your first step in the wrong direction. 

When an automatic thought comes, you evaluate it. Is it something true, helpful, encouraging, positive – or is it something irrational, false, negative and damaging. Those in the second category should not be allowed past the gate. Keep that unwanted intruder out!

Choose what thoughts you let in past the gate wisely. 

"Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust." Proverbs 4:23-27 

"Our life always expresses the result of our dominant thoughts." Soren Kierkegaard

Take a look at what you think & talk about most. What's got past the gate that you need to evict?

3. DON'T MASQUERADE WITH A MASK

"Sow a thought, reap and action. Sow an action, reap a habit . Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow character, reap destiny." Samuel Smiles 

Do you act the same way around family as you do friends? In the locker room as you do in the classroom?

The Masquerade: to veil, cloak, hide, deceive, impersonate, to cover up. 

The mask takes too much emotional energy to keep up. Why not invest in something real and lasting? (Full post coming on Masquerade soon . . . )

“Wanting to become someone else is a waste of who you are.” Marilyn Munro

4. CUT MARIONETTE STRINGS

Remember Pinocchio? He was a puppet. The only way he moved or became life like was with an operator. Someone to move the strings to make him move and act in a certain way.

Sometimes when girls have deep insecurity about themselves, their ability, their beauty, or their friendships – they are willing to allow someone else to control their reactions, opinions, in order to maintain a feeling of security.

If this is you friend, you are not free, you have some strings to cut.

Focusing on point number one and two will give you confidence and security to be you without strings attached.

Is anyone pulling your strings?

5. SELF-REFLECTION

Self-reflection – what is that? Its really simple. Its giving careful consideration to the how and why we are feeling, behaving, and interacting with others.  The purpose of reflection is to learn about ourselves, the impact others have on us, and the impact we have on others.

Questions you might ask yourself . . . 

·      How am I doing with friendships?

·      Where do I want to grow as a person?

·      What areas of my character are weak?

·      What areas of my character are strong?

·      What causes me pain?

·      What gives me great joy?

·      What makes me angry or sad?

·      What are my fears? Are they rational or irrational?

·      What are my future goals and dreams?

·      What kind of people am I drawn do – why?

·      What kind of qualities turn me off – why?

·      What am I draw do as passions and causes?

·      Am I being a person others can respect?

·      Do I respecting my body the way I should?

·      Am I using my talents fully?

·      Am I giving my family and friends my most and my best?

·      Am I engaging in worthy activities?

·      Am I making a positive impact on the world?


Bless you friend,