You hear so often in movies and television shows some character declaring their need to "find themselves". In one way or another someone or some situation has caused them to lose themselves and now they are on a quest to rediscover the inner self they lost along the way. You know, for the most part, many of us walk down a similar path, but does it really look so glamorous?
We see shots of people trekking across a vast wilderness, setting out to find some lost love, or declaring that they are going to finally put themselves first for a change. Ok... what about the average person that has lost themself in the midst of the normal responsibilities of life. The hard worker that has found himself out of work and struggling to support his family. The person that is constantly told that they are less than what they are by employers, a coworker, a spouse, or a friend at school. Will eating berries in a rain forest wearing flip flops and shorts and holding a walking stick really help them find who they are?
I don't think it really does. I do agree that a change of view can help to change your point of view. For instance, going on a mission trip will help you to see how good you really have it, get you to think about others and not your own problems, and jump start your desire to serve a greater purpose. One problem... most of us quickly calm down and get stuck in the muck and mire of the sludge that we originally wanted to get free of before we left.
Why am I writing about all of this? Not to complain! Actually, it is the exact opposite. It isn't about running away or retreating. It is about recognizing and evaluating. Many times when tough or even mundane times come our way, we don't evaluate what is really happening. We start to look only as far as the next day or hour, and we never look farther back than the last meal that we had.
How do we get past a slump? We need to take regular times to not only look forward, but also to look back. Plan out a regular time that works for you. This time is not to take record of your whole life, but to evaluate the last week, month, or year. This isn't to brood over the goals that were missed, but to make corrections, spot ruts in the road, and to give us the tools to accurately move forward. If you can get beyond yourself in your thinking, you will be able to spot influencers that are bringing you down (relationships, job situations, bad habits, etc). Then, you can properly look to the future. What are the goals that you want to accomplish in the next week, month, and year?
Everyone is different, and I don't know everything. I understand that I don't know everyone's situation, and I am sure that there are many other ways to stay confident, understand yourself and what you have to offer, and to get out of ruts in your life. I can just tell you that I have been in the situation where life overwhelmed me. I have been told things about myself that weren't the truth by people I have trusted in my life. I have bought into the lies that my own insecurities constantly told me. It was when I didn't retreat, fall back, or close my eyes that I finally saw the strength that God has instilled in me.
When you are willing to evaluate, no matter how much you think it will hurt, and plan ahead, you will see how strong you are and how much you are worth. I know that God has made you exactly the way that He wanted to make you. Bad choices have consequences, but God is so much greater than the mountains that are in front of us or behind us. Open your eyes, stand firm, and trust that God will conquer anything in your path as long as you trust Him. Don't be afraid... you've been made with a Purpose.
