When I created my first blog, everyday I would rush home from work and write down all my thoughts and experiences of the day. I became obsessed; and it became overbearing. I would check google analytics and the stats on my phone constantly, looking for comments and views.
Eventually, my friends and family started reading it, which I was cool with. But then I thought, wouldn’t it just be awesome to write freely and anonymously? To speak open and honest and be real with myself; without judgement from anyone in my life?
I wasn’t sure what to blog about today since it was just your standard Friday post-work afternoon, but is there any feeling greater than that?!
Perception is the way we understand, comprehend, and perceive things. It’s also that part of you that has intuition.
Your attitude and point of view is your Perspective.
At first, I decided this post would be dedicated to compiling a list of my greatest achievements, challenges, mistakes, and failures that I’ve overcome. I recommend you try doing it too. It can spin a negative experience into a more positive and give you a fresher perspective.
I got off track, clearly, but ultimately, this post centers around perspective and perception; the differences and similarities. Your perception is shaped by your perspective. If you change your perspective, you can change your thoughts. Renewal of the mind is the first step to building your foundation in Christ Jesus. Plant the seeds. Then, they will need to be watered. If you continue to grow, you will produce good fruit (good trees only produce good fruit), the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Then, you will grow more in the Spirit- and that is when transformation happens. This is coming from the biggest skeptic, psychology major, who viewed “religion” as a crutch. (Little untold secret about Christianity….Being a Christian is actually the hardest, yet most rewarding decision, you will make in your life; To pick up your Cross and Follow Jesus. To die to yourself and deny yourself things you’re used to; you become transformed through the Holy Spirit (The Spirit of Jesus that He left for ALL!!!)
Your thoughts become your words; your words become actions; your actions become behavior; your behavior is who you are.
My mom told me this growing up, “What you say, you’ll have”. I think it’s so important to think positive. I’m not a happy-go-lucky person, (obviously), but I do believe being realistic but positive is the best way to think. Why think about the worst case scenario? Although that is what our brain is trained to do (fight or flight reflex), it never happens. Never.
Even if you have to fake it at first, it slowly changes your perception of things. Your perspective on life can then change as well.
In terms of my achievements, I don’t compare to anybody in my family. I’m not an athlete; I’m not a genius; I don’t make millions of dollars and I don’t have the life of the party personality. Majority of my life, I felt like the black sheep looking in. Ivy leaguers, news anchors, google software engineers, Wall Street traders, owners of businesses and non-profits; I’m just your average person. But throughout the last two months I’ve grown to believe I’m more than that. And so are you. Nobody is average unless they want to be and settle to be. Everyone has an interesting life, no matter what your story is. And you know what? What defines identity? Not your looks, not your job, not your religion, not where you live, not your career success: These things do not tell me WHO you ARE. So…knowing your identity in Christ Jesus is the most important thing you will learn. For me, it was a massive challenge, to change the way I saw myself, to slowly learn to love myself, and it’s still a work in progress. Consistently renewing my mind, knowing WHO God is, all good, all loving, gentle, caring, never demanding, yet sovereign, all powerful, knowing He sent His only Son as a sacrifice to us, that is how much he lives us. For God created us, sin separated us, and God loved us so much that Jesus died for our sins so we could live forever with Him and the Father, in perfect peace and harmony, the way God intended life to be.
So, back to the original question, I have learned that when you come to a certain age, which is different for everyone, you mature. For me, when I turned 25, I was tired of the whole partying/ hooking up/drinking scene. I couldn’t stand people who “just wished they could go back to college.”
Life is more than that. It’s the sum of your life, experiences, relationships, love, lessons learnt, dreams… I don’t regret things. I used to, but there’s no point. What’s done is done, and there can always be a lesson learned from a mistake.
Not having protected sex leads to either an STD or a pregnancy; it’s like playing Russian roulette. I learned the hard way. At 21 I had an abortion. Something inside me knew it was a boy; I can’t wait to meet him in Heaven. I love him so much and all I want to do is be with him and apologize and say how sorry I am.
I used to cut; sometimes the thought will cross my mind when I’m really in a crisis mode. But cutting yourself as a cry for help isn’t beneficial; you live with those scars forever. And sometimes, it can scare people off….. Big time. I don’t remember the last day I went without wearing coverup on my wrists, thighs, and wearing massive bracelets or long sleeves. But I don’t regret it, because I might not be here today had I not cried out for help. From God.
If your perspective on life is that it sucks, it’s boring, it’s a tiring routine, depressing, etc., then you’re not thinking clear. I promise, because I was you. Just trying to make it by, day by day. Do you wanna live just getting by? No–you want to live happy–and I didn’t even know what being “happy” meant.
If you’ve hit rock bottom, you can only go up. I challenge you to change your perspective. Give God a chance. Your life will be forever shaken, in the most supernatural, amazing way, that is just for you. Why not just say, “God, if you’re real, please show me. I am seeking you.” If you mean it truly in your heart.. “Whoever seeks Him, shall find Him.”
