Tag Archives: quote

Love

Be Yourself and Change the World

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lights

 

It’s not about trying to change the world, it’s about trying to not be changed by it.”-LIGHTS

 

These words by the popular Canadian electropop artist ring true.  First of all, when we think about wanting to change the world, we don’t think about ourselves.  We think we have to cure world hunger and cancer, make every country peaceful, and get everyone on the planet employed.  These ideas are good but lofty.  It leaves us feeling overwhelmed that we can’t accomplish much as one person.  It makes us want to give up before we’ve even started.

As we go about our daily lives, we are bombarded by pressures from our peers, from media, and from society as a whole.  They tell us we should look a certain way, act a certain way, and hide what makes us unique.  What this quote by Lights expresses is that we shouldn’t let other people change us.  We shouldn’t try to fit into a mold created by those around us.  God created us to be different.  We came with a unique body and face, soul and heart, passions and dreams, goals and a purpose.  We shouldn’t do things because we think they will make us cool, appreciated, popular, or successful.  We should choose our words and actions based on what is right and what passions God has implanted within our hearts.

What we don’t understand most of the time is that if we are who we’re meant to be instead of being someone others’ want us to be, we will change the world.  If we become who we are created to be, we encourage others to be their true self.  Others’ opinions seem less important when you view a person shining their own light.  They make the right decisions, care for other people, and don’t live solely for the crowd’s approval.  Your appearance, popularity, and level of success will fade into the background when you see an individual with self-worth not dependent on any of those aspects.  When you see someone loving themselves just the way they are, including their flaws, it gives you the courage to do the same.  It inspires you to change the world by first loving yourself and then accepting others with all their imperfections.  Change the way you view yourself and you will change the way you view other people.  Be yourself and change the world.

 

(For more on Lights visit her website:  music.iamlights.com)

Uncategorized

People Drain Me

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introvert

 

“People empty me.  I have to get away to refill.”-Charles Bukowski

 

Some people might not understand why I genuinely enjoy spending time by myself.  The best way I can explain it is that introverts gain energy by being alone.  When they are required to be in public or they venture out in the real world of their own accord, they know they’ll eventually become drained.  Speaking, interacting, and basically communicating with others takes a lot of mental and emotional energy out of us.  Also, there is an overabundance of stimuli that may overwork our brains.  Yes, we are observers, but we can only take in so much for so long before we have to recharge.

Extroverts are the opposite.  They gain strength from being around people.  They ‘level up’ when someone pays attention to them.  They enjoy being in crowds, at parties, and at malls.  This is their natural habitat. Introverts, in turn, enjoy being at home or in quiet spaces, such as libraries, book stores, or small coffee shops.

In a room full of people, there is a constant tug of war.  The extroverts are competing for everyone’s attention as if they are doing a tap dance routine on a stage.  The introverts are the audience, silently observing everything around them and maybe taking notes in their journal.  Some extroverts may not understand why the introverts sit down and won’t join in ‘dancing’ with them.  They might look at them strangely and eventually ostracize them because they think they are weird or different.  What they must realize is that there is no audience without introverts.  There is no one to listen to them and give them a few words of well thought out advice.  Both kinds of people must exist in order for meaningful conversation to take place.

But what happens when one extrovert begins conversing with a single introvert?  Then the real battle begins:  the battle of energy.  The extrovert will approach another person with a story, expecting the introvert to respond with his or her own.  The introvert might say a few words in response, but will leave the other person dissatisfied.  Extroverts need energy from other people to fill their ‘tanks’ up.  When the flow of words doesn’t come in their direction, they might resort to asking random, personal questions.  This is usually terrifying to the introvert.  They want to have plenty of time to ponder their answers, but are not given it.  With every question asked, some energy is stolen from his or her tank and is deposited into the extrovert’s.

Does this mean that we hate people?  No.  Does this mean that we’re wary of who we let into our personal bubble?  Yes.  We enjoy spending time with a few close friends that we can trust not to completely deplete our energy supply.  When meeting a new person, we may seem stand-offish, but don’t take offense.  We may not open up to you immediately, but if and when we do, it will be special and beautiful.  We are deep thinkers of few words, but when we do speak, listen closely.  We speak softly, but our words are full of wisdom.

 

This is funny but true:  ‘How to Care For An Introvert’

Einstein

Everybody is a Genius

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genius

 

“Everybody is a genius.  But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

 

Every person has God-given talents.  You may not be able to dance, sing, or act well, but you have your own particular set of gifts.

Society places certain expectations on everyone, such as success, beauty, a strong relationship and a sizable bank account.  That can leave some of us feeling lack-luster as we may not currently possess a powerful job, model looks, a boyfriend or girlfriend (or husband/wife), or an overflowing abundance of cash.  It’s easy to point out the ways we don’t measure up instead of appreciating how unique and special we are.

When we compare ourselves to others, it seems like we aren’t good enough.  Some people are doctors, lawyers, and businessmen (or women).  Others are photogenic, popular, or great public speakers.  Some have long-time boyfriends or girlfriends, fiancés, or have already been married for years with a few kids.  When we judge ourselves related to others, we sell ourselves short.

Our parents may have their own plans for us that aren’t realistic.  They might want to live vicariously through us or just have dreams for us that we aren’t equipped to actualize.  Mulan struggles with this when she can’t be the girl her parents expect her to be.  She wants to bring honor to her family, but she is destined to be a heroine, not merely a desirable candidate for a matchmaker and future mate.

Instead of comparing ourselves to others or trying to fit into the mold created for us by society or by our parents, we should discover what talents we have hidden within us.  Using these abilities will be your gift to God and your gift to the world.  Don’t be a cookie-cutter version of someone else.  Be yourself, because there’s only one you.