Finding out who you truly are requires admitting who you are not.
A few days ago I wrote a post called “3 reasons you need to get over the things you aren’t good at.” We are all composed of a unique set of gifting, personality, bends, strengths, and weaknesses. I believe it’s important to be totally okay with both our weaknesses and our strengths.
There are moments when I feel like I have so far to go in gaining freedom and confidence in who I am, and then there are moments when I realize how far I’ve come. I have to remind myself that is the goal is progress not perfection.
I recently took one of those personality tests that I have taken at least 2 other times. This time it one of my components was the same while another was completely different that I’ve ever got before. I realize there are so many dynamics to theses tests including team dynamics as well as my current season. But what struck me this time, is I was totally okay with the results. I wonder if the times before I was trying to be a certain personality because that seemed like the best personality.
I went from scoring and outgoing, center of attention personality to the steady, easy going personality. Which is in all honesty more of who I am. For years I wanted to be that outgoing life of the party, but now while I am thankful to be entertained by that personality type, yet I am completely comfortable with the nature that God has given me. When I think back to my childhood, I can see that that was more my bend. I always influence, but it wasn’t because I was asking for it. I was a kid with a big imagination that was happy playing alone or with the boys down the street.
My goal for these posts is to help each of us embrace who we are and let go of who we are not. So here are 3 reasons why it’s okay for you to be awesome.
1. Confidence is attractive to others. In case you happen to get confidence confused with arrogance, let me give you a quick definition of each.
Arrogance says I am great for my own benefit.
Confidence says I am blessed so that I can be a blessing to others.
Confident people aren’t looking for affirmation when you talk to them. They already know their worth and they are looking for ways to get to know you and make you feel at ease. It is a lot easier to talk to a confident person than someone who is struggling with insecurity.
2. It brings freedom to people around you. When you are at peace with who you are, it actually creates a place for others around you to step into that same peace. People can see that you actually like yourself, and this creates a curiosity. That leads to the realization that they too can like themselves.
3. Your greatness is more about serving others that your own benefit. Romans 11:29 says “for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” The Greek word for irrevocable is translated “un-regretted.” That means God placed a gift and a call in you so that you could be great, and He doesn’t regret that. God is confident in the gift he has placed on your life. Those gifts and calls are what make you a unique gift to this world. The heart behind God making you great is so that the world can benefit from who you are.
In the process of embracing who we are it’s important to guard one’s heart from pride. Just because I may not be the most outgoing person in the room doesn’t mean I can’t be thankful and appreciative of what they bring to the environment. It doesn’t make me greater than them or vice versa. Aren’t you thankful we aren’t all the same? That would be so utterly boring. So in your process of discovering the greatness in you be aware of the greatness of those around you. It is your responsibility to steward a heart that is thankful for what you carry and for what those around you carry. People are all different, and that is a part of the beauty of our Creator. He never makes two things exactly the same, and we get to celebrate our differences rather than resent them.
Thanks for being so great,
Anna
