Tag Archives: #identity

Spirituality, Uncategorized

Walled In

On June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan gave a speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin. His famous words, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” went viral before viral was a thing. A little over two years later the wall came tumbling down. You can see a large piece of the wall at the Reagan Presidential Library in California.

Two years ago I read multiple studies showing that over 80% of adults in the United States don’t like themselves. The number shocked me, but when I considered the amount of hatred I observed on the internet it made sense. When someone doesn’t like themself, they will tear others apart so they won’t accept themselves, either.

It’s no surprise that people build walls, too. They create facades that show the world the person they want to look like, but that might not be who they are. Some people believe that if others saw the real person, they might not like who they see.

The undeniable truth is, each of us was created uniquely and on purpose by God. He had a plan in mind for us all. Another undeniable truth is that God doesn’t make junk, nor does he second guess himself. Unlike human beings, he knows what he’s doing all the time. It’s my hope that if you struggle with self-worth because life has knocked you around, you will find yourself in these truths. See yourself for who you are, not the version the world might want you to be.

When you approach life in an open, unguarded way, others will drop their guard, too. That’s where connection happens…

Standard
Spirituality

Complete

One of the dumbest lines ever comes from the movie, “Jerry Maguire.” In one scene, Tom Cruise says to Renee Zellweger “you complete me.” The audience swoons, and everyone lives happily ever after!

You are complete already. God created you and gave you every skill, every talent and every ability you need to do what he created you for. He didn’t send you to earth partially done.

It is true that we are born with a hole in our hearts. The 17th century French philosopher Pascal called it a “God shaped vacuum.” Only God can fill that void. Another broken human being won’t fit. And we are all broken.

Search for the God of the impossible. You know who I’m talking about. He’s waiting.

I leave you with Jeremiah 29:13 which says, “You will find me when you seek me with all of your heart…”

Standard
Spirituality

What Will You Say?

We are rebellious by nature. We have been this way since Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden. The inner battle continues all our lives.

All through history, including biblical history, when we say YES to God, great things happen. We aren’t waiting on God to show himself. God is waiting on us!

Be fearless. Get in the habit of saying yes. God will use us in ways we are well suited for. I used to be afraid that if I answered the call, God would make me be a missionary in India. I have no desire to do that! God is probably laughing at my silliness.

Say yes to God. Say the most dangerous prayer which is, “use me.” He will, and then the miracles happen…

Standard
Spirituality

Optimism or Dread

You have a choice. A new work week is upon us. Are you facing the week with an optimistic attitude, excited about what’s to come? Or perhaps you are one of the millions of people who are just trying to make it through to another weekend.

Working at a job that lacks fulfillment is prevalent across society. It doesn’t have to be this way, but there is the challenge people face. What to do about it when I have a mortgage, car payments, taxes and food to pay for. It does require money to live.

Life is full of trade-offs. I trade some of my time off to pursue night school. Or I can remain where I am and continue the cycle, the grind.

Going back to school is just one example. You can start a garden and sell vegetables at a local Farmer’s Market. You can take acting classes. It really is up to you to decide how to use your time.

Take a moment and ask God to show you the way. You might not get an immediate answer, but you will get an answer. Then it’s up to you to take action.

It’s time to wake up every day with the attitude that you can’t wait to get started!

Standard
Spirituality

Stradivarius

A Stradivarius is a string instrument created by the Stradivari family beginning in the late 1600’s. They are known for their excellent craftsmanship, tone and durability. There are about 650 instruments remaining in the world, and a Stradivarius violin sold for $18 million dollars in recent years.

As rare as a Stradivarius is, you are more rare than they are. Around 1,100 instruments were created by Antonio Stradivari, yet only one of you has lived, breathed and walked on planet Earth. And considering that over 100 billion people have lived since the beginning of time as we know it, this makes you even more rare and valuable.

Be fearless in showing the world who you are. You were created to stand out and to use your unique gifts to make a difference in the world. Don’t hide your identity. Show yourself!

You have a lot to offer to mankind. Don’t waste your talents…

Standard
Spirituality, Uncategorized

Enough

Have you had enough? Enough negativity. Enough self-delusion. Enough unfulfilled expectations. Enough of people who aren’t good for you.

Good! When you are fed up with all the bullshit, you are ready to make a change. Growth is very hard. It becomes easier when you have a reason to grow. Then you are working towards something, a better version of you.

On the opposite side, you can never have enough joy, enough peace, enough contentment and enough love for yourself.

Accept nothing less. And keep people away who refuse to live up to your expectations…

Standard
Spirituality

Distress

At sea, an S. O. S. call is issued when imminent danger exists. It stands for “Save Our Souls.” Mayday is an internationally recognized call which signals a life-threatening emergency situation.

What are the signs you put out to let people know you are distressed? Perhaps you isolate yourself and keep others away so they don’t see you in your weakness. Maybe you throw yourself into a bottle, thinking that by numbing yourself out you won’t feel the pain.

The best way to handle the times you feel stressed and at your wits end is to reach out to your friends. Let them know what’s going on with you. There’s no shame in going through a dark period. Everyone has. You don’t have to do it alone.

I encourage you to go outward when you feel like going within. Human connection is vital for mental health. We are wired to be in community with others.

Never be afraid to be yourself when in the company of others. You aren’t alone…

Standard
Uncategorized

Red Flags

When we hear about red flags, we know some kind of warning is coming. Red flags are placed on beaches where it’s unsafe for swimming. And they are placed on construction sites when there’s a reason to pause building.

Some people demonstrate behavior that should come with a red flag. Constant lying, being rude to restaurant servers, saying hurtful things and putting others down while declaring their own superiority are clearly warning signs you should stay away. These types of people operate in a world of their own self-interest. You cannot fix them. They can only help themselves.

Find the people who bring out the best in you. Those who honor and respect you are a true treasure. They are a rare breed in today’s society, but they are out there.

Look for the green flags. Green is good!

Standard
Spirituality

Wrong Way

We men are notorious for refusing to stop and ask for directions. There’s an old story about a husband and wife driving down the road. The wife looks at the husband and says, “You’re going the wrong way!” The husband replies, “Be quiet! I’m making good time!”

Some of us went the wrong way in life. We didn’t follow the dreams of our hearts. Instead, we settled for the life others wanted or expected us to have. That’s not living. That is merely existing. Knowing there is more to life than what we are experiencing is frustrating. People then seek fulfillment in a bottle. Or worse.

If you are holding on to the hope of a more meaningful life, keep holding on. And start doing something about it. The dreams of an earlier time are still there. You just need to bring them back to life! It’s possible if you are willing to take a risk.

And please remember to thank God along the way. After all, God gave you the dream and with His help and guidance, you will succeed…

Standard
Spirituality

Angels Among Us

Did you know that Angels might be in your midst? It’s true! Hebrews 13:2 says, “ Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.“ So, there you have it.

It is my belief that we should try to show kindness to friends and strangers alike. Do it because that’s what is in your heart, not because you want something. God knows our motives because He sees everything. I’m not just talking about our actions. He sees beneath the surface.

When you are working on yourself, remember to ask God to remove any impure thoughts and actions from your life. He will.

God is the original heart surgeon. He can heal us and purify us…

Standard