There are so many self-help books, productivity tips and YouTube videos where people share their 5am morning routine, or how their life changed in 6 months updates. On Instagram there's a new update about a car, a job or marriage; even on TikTok there are lush videos of tropical scenery, brunching or day in life which entails living in a nice apartment and buying a nice pair of shoes. All of these things are great accomplishments and perhaps you aspire to attain some of them, but your life right now is not currently where you desire to be.
I want to talk about how to accept your current self whilst working towards becoming the person God created you to be. Social media can either negatively or positively impact our perspectives and self-esteem, I believe that as an individual we should be intentional with how we use such platforms and be cognisant of when we may need to take a break from its influence. But I am aware of how looking at people you personally know, or even individuals who you look up to for various reasons, sharing their life can impact the way we view ourselves and our lives.
There are certain women who I look up to, they fall into the categories of influencers, mothers, entrepreneurs and creatives. I see the blessings that have come into their lives as some I have followed for many years, and I am in awe of what God has done and hope to experience my own version of success like them. I then look at my life and I know that I mustn't compare myself to other people, but the one person I struggle to not compare myself against is myself.
Let me explain.
I have always had this belief that this future version of myself that I will one day be is more worthy than my current version. Countless messages influence this concept of progression such as; be who God created you to be, change the negative patterns in life, even witnessing the celebration of having 'arrived' at a certain level in life, so individuals can now access certain blessings. Although these are not harmful rhetoric, partnered with my own desire to grow and mature, I didn't feel deserving of love or celebration because I wasn't yet the successful, disciplined, healed, prayer warrior etc. woman.
This impacted my relationship with God, as I felt so embarrassed at times to come before Him because I felt that He was disappointed in me, compared to who I am truly meant to be or even other people at times. I had it ingrained in my head that as I am wasn't valuable, I needed to go through a lot of processing in order to be deemed valuable, receive the breakthrough I desire and God would like me a lot better.
Now processing in life is necessary and we must all go through it, especially if we commit to a life with Christ. Process is how He matures, us, heals us, corrects us all so we can be more like Him. But it is however a lie that we are not loved when we are not yet this 'better' version of ourselves. God accepts us at all stages and wants intimacy with the broken you, the lazy you, the worried you, the inconsistent you, the fearful you. None of these behaviours stay the same, they will change by God's grace and you allowing Him to work in your life. But we mustn't be ashamed to come before God as we currently are.
Accepting your current self does not mean condoning and being complacent in destructive behaviours, or settling for a life less that what God desires for you. But instead it is acknowledging how you are, bringing that honestly before God without shame and allowing Him to guide you in your process of transformation, whilst being loved and affirmed the entire time! You don't have to wait to be the better version of you in order to enjoy life, spend time with your community or make memories. Live now even as you are still unlearning, building and transforming. God wants you now and does not want for you to think that you are not valuable or worthy of good things because you've not fully arrived yet.
Let me remind you, that we are fully completed on the other side of eternity, you will not reach the maximum level of that here on earth.
So in closing, be inspired and make intentional decisions that will guide you in fulfilling your destiny. But in the meantime, in the processing and awkward stages, do not neglect yourself, be hard on yourself or isolate yourself from receiving love and community. You are deserving of it even now, how great that God loves us unconditionally!
Let The Word be your mirror.