Tag: freedom

About Identity

Identity vs. Adventure

by iamthelilyLeave a Comment on Identity vs. Adventure
Identity vs. Adventure

I believe that people have an innate desire within them to leave a deep and lasting impact on the world.  There is a deep longing to be great not merely for fame but rather to be able to leave a mark and create change.  The desire is to demonstrate that your life has meaning and purpose.  While those longings are healthy and good, I’ve watched myself also begin to limit myself as a result.

I’ve fallen under the belief that these longings to have a life of influence, meaning, and purpose can only be met when I figure out my true calling in life.  As a result of this belief, I have found myself stuck, afraid to move forward for fear of missing out on what will actually bring me fulfillment and/or being stuck in one lane when I’m passionate about so many other things.

My problem has been that I have attached my identity to my future destiny.  I’ve unconsciously began to believe that in order to make a deep and lasting impact on the world, I have to find my perfect fit, and if I fail to discover my true calling then I will miss out on the opportunity to live a life inspired –  full of vibrancy and purpose.  I’ll end up in a second class destiny, plagued with the thoughts of “what-if” and left to pursue tasks that leave me wanting more.   But, you see there are quite a few flaws with this type of thinking.

The first flaw is that I get to choose whether or not I was created to serve myself or if I was created to serve a much larger purpose.  There is a bit of irony in my thinking because while I’m longing to leave a great mark on the world and inspire change, I only want to do it because of the feelings of purpose it will deposit inside of me.  The reality is that as my identity becomes grounded in the Truth and knowledge that I am LOVED, then my desire to have a life full of vibrant purpose is actually finally possible because I know longer have to pay homage to and worship my self-god.  I get to by-pass myself completely and give myself wholeheartedly to Truth, and as a result I will create a world in which inspiration thrives and significance is attained through Love.  And from that place, anything I do and/or say will bring life to those around me as well as to myself.

The second flaw with my old way of thinking is that I have attempted to attach my identity to my calling when in reality it should be the opposite.  My calling and the passions I have in life should be an off-shoot of my identity.  When this happens, there is no FEAR of missing out because every opportunity to pursue my passions can be seen through the lens of anticipation and embraced as an adventure.  It frees me from the need for perfectionism and the fear of missing out on greatness.  Being grounded in my identity allows me to fall flat on my face, get back up, and run harder and faster than I ever have before after the passions that have been placed in my heart.  It allows me to walk in the fullness and awesomeness of being THE LILY in a way that causes me to embrace my creative potential and unleash the imagination of my spirit to inspire and bring freedom to those around me.  This shift in mindset brings with it hope and creativity.  It does not leave me trapped in a prison quietly waiting for the perfect opportunity to come unlock my destiny.  No, this new mindset sings of freedom, hope and joy.  It is laced in love, and it is given by the One who gives GOOD gifts.  And, it is my desire to receive all that is to be received from this perspective, then bypass myself, and give abundantly of the fruit of this freedom to all who come my way.  And, I’m not going to stop until I am rooted completely in Love.  It’s time to take adventures, pursue passions, and give freedom to the world.  It’s a season of HOPE!

Embracing Adventure,

– The Lily

Jeremiah 29:11

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”

 

About Life

It’s About Direction Not Perfection

by iamthelilyLeave a Comment on It’s About Direction Not Perfection
It’s About Direction Not Perfection

Many people including myself fall into the trap of believing that perfection trumps direction; however, when we align ourselves with this belief, we submit ourselves to bondage. Without realizing it, living under the law of perfection causes us to actually place shackles around our already freed wrists and ankles believing that imprisoning ourselves is a righteous and just act.  We take the whip and strike ourselves every time we fall short.  We listen to the lies of regret and guilt that heap on condemnation all the while accusingly pointing their gnarly fingers at us commanding us to put on even more shackles as the ones we had before were inadequate.  Thus chains keep coming without reprieve, and the most unfortunate part of this story is that we are both the tormentor and the tormented.

Living under the law of perfection comes in many forms.  It rears its head every time we are unable to receive forgiveness from others and/or ourselves.  It shows up in the guise of stress and anxiety.  It keeps us from being able to receive and believe that we are really and truly loved.  It believes that there is always a catch to a person’s kindness towards us as we have an underlying belief that we don’t deserve it.  It masquerades as the idea that there will always be someone better than us; therefore, we will never actually be able to achieve our dreams as someone else is more perfect/deserving.  It breaks down our spirit when we receive any kind of constructive criticism especially when that criticism is unwanted and/or goes against our own perception of the situation.  It stunts growth, and it creates victims and individuals who see failure as a death sentence.

The good news is that this isn’t how we were meant to live.  There IS a better way.  When we shift our motto from one of living under the oppressiveness of perfection to one of focusing on direction, we break free from our chains and are able to flourish.  We are able to begin to receive love as we realize that it is not about our performance or what we bring to the table.  We are able to accept constructive criticism as we are not afraid to grow.  We see failure as an opportunity to learn and become more than we were before.  We believe that we really are forgiven when we wrong others, and therefore our relationships are able to heal and deepen.  We no longer run and hide in shame when we mess up because we realize that our identity is not based on performance.  We allow ourselves the opportunity to live and love.  Instead of weakening ourselves, we strengthen ourselves and in doing so, we begin to change the world.

Through my experience, I have realized that I can only get so far in my own efforts.  I can choose to retrain my mind to come in alignment with this truth; however, when I pair it with the realization that I am loved by God Himself, I reach higher levels than I ever could have experienced on my own.  I can’t explain what happens other than a divine alliance between myself and Truth, and it is the most beautiful miracle I’ve ever experienced.  It is a place of intimacy that breeds life and freedom where grace flows abundantly.  So, I challenge you to invite God into this equation.  Ask Him to show you how to shift your mindset to align with this truth.  You might just be surprised to see how He answers you.

Growing in Grace,

– The Lily

Philippians 3:13-15

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.”