{"id":765,"date":"2017-03-08T17:10:01","date_gmt":"2017-03-08T17:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/?p=765"},"modified":"2017-03-08T17:10:01","modified_gmt":"2017-03-08T17:10:01","slug":"define-dont-allow-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/2017\/03\/define-dont-allow-world.html","title":{"rendered":"Define Yourself \u2013 Don\u2019t Allow the World to Do It for You"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"pen-filler-leave-communication-163014<\/a><\/p>\n

When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? When you consider your personality, can you, without hesitation, name ten qualities that you possess?\u00a0 Or is the way that you view yourself clouded by the opinions of others?<\/p>\n

The best life advice I can give is this: Learn to define yourself.<\/p>\n

What\u00a0I mean is that you need to determine who you are (and who you aren\u2019t) and then learn to like yourself – as is. You are God\u2019s special creation.\u00a0 He made you in a certain way for a reason.\u00a0 That means that there is nothing wrong with you.<\/em> You are perfectly created.<\/p>\n

The problem is that the world likes to disagree with God. From your family to your friends to your co-workers, lots of people will gladly offer up their two cents as to what they think is wrong with you.\u00a0 So, you have to make a choice.\u00a0 Are you going to trust God and his decision to create you in a certain way?\u00a0 Or are you going to trust the opinions of other people?\u00a0 The answer is easy: Trust God.<\/p>\n

The problem with the world is that the world doesn’t always give you accurate feedback regarding who you are. For instance, I grew up in a household in which I was never told that I was smart.\u00a0 My father had received his PhD from an Ivy League school, and the unspoken message was,\u201d You\u2019ll never be as smart as your father.\u201d\u00a0 My parents didn\u2019t even look at my school report cards because there wasn\u2019t any point in tracking my academics.<\/p>\n

Now I could have taken in that message and been defeated. But God\u2019s message to me was far more powerful.\u00a0 His message was this: You are capable.<\/em> And that message gave me the confidence to graduate from both college and law school.\u00a0 And it allowed me to succeed in demanding jobs in the law.<\/p>\n

The point is that other people\u2019s opinions of you have very little to do with who you are. So, you must define who you are without the influence of others.\u00a0 You must learn to value yourself as a beautiful and perfect creation of God.<\/p>\n

This week, start the process of defining yourself. Look in the mirror and pick five things that you like about your appearance.\u00a0 There is nothing vain about his exercise!\u00a0 You are God\u2019s creation, and you should like his handiwork.<\/p>\n

Then think about your attributes. Name ten qualities that you possess.\u00a0 And don\u2019t simply parrot what other people have told you.\u00a0 List the qualities that you<\/em> know you possess, even if no one else knows about them.\u00a0 For example, you may have a wonderful voice, but no one has had the opportunity to hear you sing.\u00a0 You may be highly skilled in math, but you haven\u2019t had the opportunity to show off your talents.\u00a0 List the talents that you know<\/em> you have.<\/p>\n

It is so important that we define ourselves. Don\u2019t allow the world to do it for you.\u00a0 The world didn\u2019t create you \u2013 God did.\u00a0 Trust that He made you perfectly for the special purpose that He wants you to fulfill on this earth.\u00a0 You are just right<\/em> in every way.<\/p>\n

(Photo Courtesy of Pexels)<\/p>\n

Follow me at https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/yourmorningcupofinspiration<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? When you consider your personality, can you, without hesitation, name ten qualities that you possess?\u00a0 Or is the way that you view yourself clouded by the opinions of others? The best life advice I can give is this: Learn to define yourself. 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