“Dare to be a Daniel
Dare to stand alone
Dare to have a purpose firm
and Dare to make it known”
This was part of my secondary school anthem. Back then, we just sang along but never really listened to the words we sang; now, so many years after secondary school, the song makes perfect sense to me. Daniel didn’t try to be like everyone else, rather, he chose to do things differently and he wasn’t afraid to do it.
“But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank…….” Daniel 1:8 (NASB)
Have you ever been told that you are too intense? Or that you come on too strong? Or better still, that you over-do things?
A few years ago, a good friend said something important – “Stop trying to change yourself to please others. Stop trying to fit in; Your thoughts make you unique. Don’t ever change yourself for anyone”. I didn’t really appreciate these words back then.
“Thanks for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it.” Psalms 139:14 (NLT)
I woke up one day (two years after) and realized that I had spent the greater part of my adult life trying to bend over backwards in an attempt to be accepted by everyone around me; and the more I tried to change myself to fit into their ideals, the more lost I felt. Then it dawned on me that if I continued on this path, I would lose my uniqueness, my identity. I would lose what made me ME.
The truth is that no matter what you do, people would still find something wrong about you. The more you try to please them, the more displeased they get about something else in your life. So, why not connect with God and please Him, and let Him make the difference?
Food for thought: Accept yourself the way you are, because only then will you be able to fulfil your destiny. Don’t be afraid to stand out. Dare to be different!
Stay hopeful …… find your purpose!
email: kemi@livingfreetolive.org
facebook: Livingfreetolive//Kemi Olawaiye-Dampson
twitter: @livingfree2live
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