I clicked on a ‘fun’ profile analysis in Facebook this morning – you know what they are… what you would look like if you were the opposite sex, what your flower name is, the quote you live your life by, what you will look like in 50 years… the list goes on, and on!
This one was called What is your Queen quote? I thought this could be rather interesting, so I clicked on it, it *analyzed* my profile and came back with the following quote;
‘If you are going to be two-faced, at least make one of the faces pretty’
*Insert GASP here*… ooh, that was rather offensive, I definitely was not posting that to my social media profile! This is never something that I would say, or would ever think about someone.
~ BUT ~
It did get me thinking.
The definition of two faced according to Urban Dictionary;
“A persona that usually stems from a lack of self-identity, self-esteem, and/or cajones. The person is also usually a brown noser, as they try to please whomever they meet. In an effort to be accepted by the entire world, a “two faced” person will socially accommodate anyone they meet in an attempt to be popular and liked by everyone.”
BAM! Identity… This is what I want to talk about today.
So often, we as people (in all walks of life) feel that we are not good enough just the way we are, so we have to try and be something that we think the world will accept.
We feel that we have to communicate a certain way, or have our branding a certain way, our writing style has to match a certain requirement, our hair has to be ‘normal’ our dress style has to fit in. We must stay silent about certain topics (Politics and Religion people?) and we must go with the flow and not buck the trend… We are ALL trapped in this reality.
At the end of the day, when you get home, take off your shoes and let your hair down, are you different to how you have acted all day? Do you speak differently, act differently, dress differently? Does your family know you as someone who is completely different to how your work colleagues know you? Do you change the way you portray yourself in different situations? Ie, on social media, down the local take-away, at a 5-star restaurant, on a job site, in the office, in church, in a community meeting or at the local tavern?
If so, then I want to challenge you – why?
- Are you fearful that they won’t like who you really are?
- Are you trying to be someone you aren’t, eg your mentor?
- Do you feel that people won’t take you seriously?
- Do you have to keep within strict policies and guidelines in dress, speech, act?
- Have you done it for so long that you have forgotten who you are?
- Are you not being you, because you think that you won’t be accepted as you are?
I see many people are struggling with self-image issues, depression and anxiety nowadays – could this be a major factor in the self-harm and suicide rates in teens and young adults today? Where society plays dress-up’s to act a part that they don’t really enjoy, and don’t want to play any more because it is exhausting.
Now, before you go crazy, you do have to kind of adhere to what is socially acceptable… but you also need to be genuine – and how can you do that if you can’t be who you are?
There is only one Me. I have a job to do. I have my own gifting and talents, my own way of seeing the world. My own expertise and my own experiences. I have my own way of communicating my message to the world.
There is only one You. You have your own job to do. You have your own gifting, your own talents, areas you have experience and authority in your life. Your own way of seeing the world, and your own way of communicating.
Just as I can only do what I am made to do, you can do what you are made to do. Don’t let fear stop you. Don’t let the critics stop you. If you have a message to communicate, if you have a talent to share with the world – make a plan and do it!
Are you ready to accept yourself and take your future by the horns and be the best version of yourself?