Why Fit in When You Were Born to Stand Out?
- By candidasullivan
- September 23, 2016
- No Comments
Why fit in when you were born to stand out? Dr. Seuss had the right idea when he asked this question. Why do we so desperately want to be like everyone else? Why do we so often sacrifice our needs to please someone else? We all desire to feel accepted and loved, and yet we turn to others for this need—when the power is within us.
The day that I learned to love and accept myself was one of the greatest days of my life. This gift allowed me to become the person that I needed to be. With acceptance and love came peace. And the combination brought pure joy to my life.
Does that make me perfect? Absolutely not. But it helps me to understand that I don’t have to be perfect to be loved or to have joy in my life. My worthiness does not come from things, but from love. God created me in His image. He loved me enough to send His Son to die for my sins. That in itself speaks volumes about His love for me. He loved me when I was lost and He loves me now that I’m saved. He loves me when I’m hateful, when I’m not acting my best, and when I’m hurting and afraid. I don’t have to do anything to earn His love.
If I fail, God still loves me. If I make the wrong choices, He still loves me. In fact, nothing can separate me from His love. All He wants is for me to be the person that He created me to be.
My greatest gift to the world is for me to be unapologetically me. When I’m able to loosen the bounds of comparison, jealousy, and fear and step beyond any preconceived limitations and just be me, I’m able to inspire others. This is my journey. My life. And I am the only one who can live it according to God’s plan for me.
When I try to be like someone else, I suppress my talent. When I take criticism in my heart and nurture it, then I am hurting myself. We have to be bold in our faith and brave enough to be ourselves. This is when joy enters our life.
The world is filled with naysayers, critics, judges, and bullies. They belittle others to make themselves feel more important. Bullies are too afraid to build their own dreams, so they try to tear down the dreams of others. And so often we allow them to take ours as well.
What we need to do, however, is plant our feet just right. When we totally believe in ourselves, our goals, our passion, our purpose and seek after it wholeheartedly, then the enemy is without power over us. Every day we need to ask ourselves one question: “Who are you living for?”
May God bless you!
Candida
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