Identity: How to Be Yourself Wholly and Creatively

Confidence, believing in yourself, and the innate gift of being exactly who God created you to be is beautiful, daring, and quite literally possible.There are moments in life where we are drawn into ourselves, the problems we face that were created either by us or someone linked to our lives. Moments, where we coalesce into a being of mistakes and happenings that oftentimes feel weighty without the prospect of the load ever lightening. We burden our hearts and minds with remembrances of a past unchanging, not realizing that what lies ahead does not have to carry what was before.Life is not meant to be a cumbersome, tumultuous one filled with ups and mostly downs of valleys we find ourselves hopelessly trying to climb out of. Breath is not shallow and there are no waves too deep to come out of when you, dear reader, realize the depth of the love and care with which you were crafted from the very beginning.

Why is it Important to Understand Your Identity 

I’ve written slightly before on creative identity, and I'm sure I will write more on the topic. Oh, What Joy Lies in 2019Are You Sparking Joy Yet?Yet, I am faced with the truth that if we don’t know who we are as created beings formed in love and made for joy unspeakable, how can we be anything else? Creative identity, our identities as friends, parents, lovers, and so much more come from the realization that we were made to live beyond our brokenness, shame, depression, and anxiety. Who we decide to be every day of our lives lends to a pleasant present, a now abundant with joy and happiness we spend much of our time seeking and desiring.

Finding Identity

In a society where media has an extensive reach in telling humanity who we are, who we should be, and what matters most, there isn't much time left for self-discovery lending to emotional, mental, and spiritual health and growth.From the perspective of someone who believes wholeheartedly in the grace of God, the powerful death and resurrection of Jesus, and His Sweet Spirit, identity matters.Knowing who you are changes the game for your dreams, goals, and purpose in life. Having an identity set firmly on wholeness, unconditional love, healing, and the grace of God empowers a person to be who they were meant to be. When you, dear reader, know who you are you can withstand the lies of an enemy that often uses anxiety, depression, and many other things to affect a generation desperately in pursuit of a hope that says life does get better, life can be good.If a person can understand they are loved, can understand that there is a peace available that surpasses human understanding, and a grace that abounds from a God who desires to swoon and woo in a heavenly way, that person has life and life more abundantly.Philippians 4:6-7 "Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ."John 10:10 "A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!"

How to Start the Journey

Knowing who you are is simple and difficult at the same time. To know yourself, to reflect and deal with pain and journey to wholeness in God is one of THE MOST beautiful experiences in life because in wholeness (the kind Jesus gives) there is immense freedom no one can take away from you.

• Bible | Obviously, the Bible is one source that points directly to the heart of God and his desires for us. Psalms 139 is a book in the Bible written by Psalmist (songwriter), David who was also a  poet, shepherd, and king of Israel. The David that slayed Goliath.
• Reflection| Reflection can be hard to do in a world where so many things are constantly calling for attention. Yet, it is imperative to know what you need and where you are as a being. This exercise also allows space for God to speak to you when done purposefully. (Read my blog post on how to make time for quiet here.)
• Community | Surround yourself with people who speak life. Not just positivity about who you are, but people who do life with you and can speak to you when you don't want to hear truth. Truth is needed to know who you are and it points back to what Jesus says about you. Find friends who will speak life over you and to you.
• Words | The words you speak over yourself, dear reader, mean a whole lot. Negative thoughts affect how you view yourself and according to Terri Savelle-Foy and her book Pep Talk, affects how others view you too. What are you saying to yourself when you don't feel your best when you don't feel creative, pretty, smart enough, or courageous enough? Negative thinking doesn't establish identity, it deconstructs and damages it. (If you have Kindle Unlimited with Amazon you can read this book for free.)

Y'all this is just the beginning. I'm passionate about identity, my own and yours. It matters and you matter.I hope this encouraged you in one way or another. If it has leave, comment and let me know your thoughts on identity.

Sincerely,

~Antavia

Featured Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash