Being yourself. What does
that really mean? Is it even a good thing? It brings up many questions. We live
in a world of many masks. Ask someone, How’s it going? The answer is almost
always, “good”. Even if the world is falling apart, most people will not admit
it. On the other hand, most people who ask that question really don’t want to
know the truth. They are just using it as a greeting. Finding a person who is truly
“what you see is what you get” is a rare thing. We often think we have to “be”
something else for other people. I think it’s a good thing that we can
encourage one another to “be yourself” and stop faking or hiding. There would
surely be less mental illness. When we let the masks drop, we are able to forge
deeper lasting relationships. We not only find out who others are, but we find
out who we really are. We will become stronger, wiser, and more stable. We will
form bonds greater than we could imagine. Hey, my wife has seen me at my worst
and still loves me. That’s gotta mean something.
Unfortunately, some use “just
be yourself” as a reason to not grow or better themselves. Yes, there are too
many boxes we are expected to check. Yes, many times people want us to do
things their way. As a teacher I have to always be conscious of the fact that
there are students who don’t process things like the rest of us. I recently had
a chemistry student from another country get excited that I would let them show
their work in several different ways. I their country, they said it was usually
“my way or the highway”.
Yet, as a Christ follower, I
need to yield who I am and give in to God’s plan. I may have to change some
things. I may have to add or leave something behind. All the while I can be
sure that I am not giving up my authenticity, but instead creating a new and
better “self”. Today, spend a little time to refresh “who you are” for
yourself. Be authentic, just like God created you!
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