If all the labels you often use to define who you are, are taken off, how would you describe your identity? A friend asked me this question some years back, and after some thought, I could not answer without leaning towards the labels she asked me to take off.

The question over the years, and most recently last year, became more apparent. I finally understood that, who I am, transcends beyond the ‘perception of self,’ or saying ‘I have arrived.’ I feel the labels we give ourselves if we look inwardly stem from our current situation, expectations, and society.

Who am I really outside of all I have accomplished, the material possessions, my personal goals and ambition? What more can I say about myself without using the world’s yardstick to measure the quality of my life?

The moment I realized that it is much more than all of these, the more I gained clarity on ‘purpose.’ To be honest, understanding God’s purpose for me had been and is still a journey. I wanted the season of emptiness to end; I wanted something much more significant than the existing world expectations/views.

So I searched inwardly and asked God. Through His words, I realized I was selling myself so short by attaching my identity to tags created by men and only within the comprehension of men. Every new day, I made an intentional effort to gain more clarity and a sense of direction. The more I draw closer to God; the more my identity gets re-defined.

This is not to say there are no days where I unconsciously drift into thinking maybe the world standards aren’t so bad after all. But, I remind myself that I have come a long way to get to where I am in knowing my true self, and it would be a drawback ever to doubt God’s true definition of me. I decided to celebrate and appreciate who I am and who I am becoming.

LabelsSo, when next someone comes knocking to ask me, “Who are you really?” I will smile and spell it all out with so much confidence! I hope you will be able to as well.

Have a fantastic weekend!

 

 

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