Be Confident Being You - a podcast by David K Payne

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” 
― Oscar Wilde

Each person possesses unique characteristics that make them who they are. These characteristics are displayed in our personalities, talents, abilities, and giftings. As we use and develop these characteristics, we navigate our way through life, and people begin to take note of our accomplishments. Typically, as others notice our lives, people start to consider how they can use our abilities to further their causes.  Sometimes we volunteer to join their efforts, sharing a passion for similar efforts. Regardless of how we become involved with the efforts of others, there will come the attempts of those we join to begin to influence how we walk out our path.

Though I believe each person should endeavor to become the best versions of our self, we cannot compromise the very characteristics of our lives that have contributed to making us successful in the first place. Whenever we allow others to begin to have a more significant influence over who we are and how we carry out our work than we do ourselves we will start to lose our effectiveness. Not only will we be less effective, but we also begin to lose joy, peace, happiness, and contentment. There is a personal fulfillment that only comes when we allow ourselves just to be who we are. Again, I am not advocating being different for the sake of difference; instead I am talking about an erosion of self that takes place as we allow others to shape our lives.

 A perfect example of this can be seen in the story of David.

 David said, “I’ve been a shepherd, tending sheep for my father. Whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I’d go after it, knock it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I’d grab it by the throat, wring its neck, and kill it. Lion or bear, it made no difference—I killed it. And I’ll do the same to this Philistine pig who is taunting the troops of God-Alive. God, who delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me from this Philistine. Saul said, “Go. And God help you!” Then Saul outfitted David as a soldier in armor. He put his bronze helmet on his head and belted his sword on him over the armor. David tried to walk but he could hardly budge. David told Saul, “I can’t even move with all this stuff on me. I’m not used to this.” And he took it all off. Then David took his shepherd’s staff, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s pack, and with his sling in his hand approached Goliath. 1 Samuel 17:37-40 The Message (MSG

Learn to resist the attempts of those in authority in your life to shape you into their image. Be confident in who you have been and how you have navigated life thus far. We must grow and change as we see areas of our lives that need improving but ask for wisdom to know when you stop improving your life and begin compromising self. Keep reminding yourself of the two leading indicators, a loss of effectiveness and a loss of joy!

Just Be

David

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