Isn’t that a question most of us are asking at any given point in our lives? Have you ever run into someone who thinks they are one thing, but they totally are not? Simply a case of bad self-awareness. Now - what about people who are different ways around different people? Another case of low sense of self. I probably will get in over my head with this post because I am not a Ph.D. psychologist, but I know a little bit about this and want to explore it with you the readers/lurkers.
I know someone who changes when they are around different people. He is one way around friends, one way around family, and one way around co-workers. I think it stems from having a low view of who they are and needing to please people. It is draining to be around because I know when the person is not standing up for what they believe in.
I have been guilty of the same thing in my life, but it is something I am really working hard on. I want to be the same JVD around co-workers, family, friends, whoever - what you see is what you get. My boss talks a lot about living an inside-out life. Who you are on the inside is who you are on the outside - if you have had success with that - how do you do it?
Self - who am I? who are you? JVD
Joe,
LAst week on retreat, Jackie, one of the seniors gave this advice to the 7th graders. She said, “It’s really tiring when you try to be something you are not. Just be who you are.”
I’m out –golfing now, peace
-Maas
Todd - boy if people could get that in 7th grade…. JVD
It’s easy to say but hard to do, especially when you want people to like you.
Yep - but as you practice it, it is not as hard. Something to work on all the time - just be yourself. One of the blessings/curses about going to Bethel for college was the Christian environment of everyone having to be happy - I had to be happy even when my parent’s were getting a divorce, and it about killed me - I have learned to be myself - always. JVD