Becoming the Best Me I can Be

9

“That’s just who I am, and I have made peace with that.” I could not help to eavesdrop on the conversation going on next to me. The gist of the whole thing was that the man speaking those words had come to grips with himself, more specifically, with his weight and whatever other dynamics that go along with being a large person. I struggle with that statement every time I hear it.

best me I can be

There’s something good and even healthy in realizing who you are, and as the Bible says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Understanding that God created us uniquely and for a purpose is a great place to be psychologically because culture tries hard to define for us whom we should emulate, how we should look and act. It’s comforting hearing from people who do not buy into all  of that.

But there’s a darker side of that statement that I cannot help but consider, specially coming from someone who could benefit from losing weight even if done so for health reasons alone. There’s this nagging feeling that it’s easy to settle for the status quo than to pay the price and fight to get to a better place. I wrestle with it constantly. I must confess I have a tendency to go overboard with everything I do, so I’m aware I can be overzealous about personal goals, specially when it comes to health and fitness.

I have decided that  I need to become the best me I can be. I know what that means for me, or at least I’m trying to figure it out. I have no idea of that means for you, and I will not impose my own personal goals on you, on my family, or friends. I must confess, I have done that in the past with no success, instead, I frustrated and hurt the people whom I love.

But I still believe that tomorrow can be better than today. Call me naive, but I do. I believe that I can grow, learn, train, lose weight, and get stronger even when most people would label me as being past my prime.  The way I see it, if I shoot for the stars and only get to the moon, I will be further than I have ever been.

How do you handle the tension of becoming your best and being content with who and where you are?

  • I, too, have refused to compromise with myself or accept inertia as my best. However, I’ve learned that growth is a long journey. It’s taken me more than 50 years to become my best in some areas, and I’m still working on others. “Still working” is the key.

    • Great perspective, Lawrence. I consider myself a lifetime learner.

  • Being content with ourselves as who we are is different than not being willing to change. For instance, I am confident in Who I am in Christ, but I am also aware that there are things in me that still need work, and always will. When we just “settle” for where we’re at, I believe we’re telling God there is nothing more that He can do. 

    • Interesting that most Christians would agree with you when it comes to their  spiritual, moral and social areas. That usually doesn’t translate when it comes to their physical or professional parts of their lives. Most of it gets quickly tossed into the vanity and greed bins. I think God’s best for us affect every area of our lives, specially the areas that are the hardest for us to get a grip on.

      • I would have agreed with them a few years ago. I weighed 330 lbs. and was in denial to the fact I was in bondage. I don’t believe you can be well balanced spiritually if you are in bondage in any other area. I believe your physical life says a lot about your spiritual life. 

      • O.S. Hawkins always used to say, “never trust a fat preacher”… i think this agrees with you. and has always made sense on many levels. 

        hm. thanks for something worth pondering.

        • Mteston1

          O.S. as a pastor and fitness fanatic most of my 54 years no truer words have ever been said. But no one I mean no one wants to admit this. Talk about a place to grow, there is that place. The lies we tell ourselves set us up for spiritual, physical, and emotional unhealthiness. When my physical fitness is at a reasonable live it is amazing how much clearer and Christ focused I am. I would add one other note, “bad hair/fake hair” don’t trust them. Lol

  • I tend to handle that tension by realizing that I can only be me. When I try to compare myself to others, it’s futile and will lead to discouragement and settling for the status quo because I won’t be able to achieve or be who someone else is. That has taught me to be content with me. 

    However, I do compare myself to my former self. Am I stronger than I was last month? More honest? Is my character growing compared to where I was last year? Am I more loving, teachable and giving? Those questions help me push forward and try to be the best me I can be.

  • Blah

    Sorry, just wanted to say it’s “especially” not “specially”

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