Dear You,
Who am I?
I’m sure it’s a question many people have asked and struggled with.
In recent times a lot more people are made aware of who they are through different things.
Constant scrutiny by others on social media that cause(s) them to understand how they present themselves; an emotional, thought provoking film or show that causes one to reflect and see themselves in the characters; or even in the school system where emphasis is placed on career planning and the subjects and courses students are made to choose.
You are right now probably under some stress to figure out who you are. Before I continue, let me say this. You are not alone. From the many people I’ve talked to, almost no one has their whole life figured out.
So how does one go about learning about themselves?
Talk to close friends and family who aren’t afraid to tell you what’s on their mind. You need to have others be honest with you in order for you to know what your true personality really is, not skewed by your own perception of what you want to be or who you think you are.
Another way for those less inclined to talk to other people is to note down and analyse how you react and act in certain situations. Then ask yourself, “Is this who I want to be?”
After that you may realise how terrible of a person you are or maybe how things you like doing may reflect poorly on yourself. Before you try to justify your actions, take a moment to think. Are you defending your bad habits because you are afraid of change? Be open minded. Perhaps you can take small steps to move away from these negative behaviors.
Eventually you will change and find that things will be for the better. You need not fear that your personality, or the things you like and dislike, change. Do not mistake character quirks, hobbies, purpose, job, etc. for an actual personality. They may help shape or be part of a person’s identity but those do not fully explain what someone is entirely about.
Speaking of purpose, it is our calling as Christians to obey the Word of God and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and His bringing of salvation. While it should be a major factor in how you act, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to start working full-time in church. What it means is that in whatever you do and say, remember to place God as the most important factor.
After all is said and done, know that figuring out and weeding out your bad habits isn’t going to happen overnight. It is a long and hard process with many bumps in the road. And sometimes, we may need to take a detour to see if we made the right choice and backtrack to walk a different path. Last but not least, don’t get too caught up in thinking. Sometimes it may be best to take a step away from your thoughts and enjoy the moments in your life with others.
With Love: Noah