Have you ever stopped long enough to listen to good life design advice?
When you are trying to find your place this world, it’s easy to slap coats of paint on your life to see how the color fits. It’s also easy to look around at other people and pick a “color” just because a lot of other people have it and it’s the latest fad. You may sometimes have to make sacrifices and pick a not-so-ideal color due to circumstances, but you make the choices you think are best for yourself and those you love. You try to change in the ways you need to make it through another day, but when you’ve painted a room 25 times, it’s hard to remember what the original color of the room looked like and how it was designed from the beginning.
For me, there was a time in my life when I was totally in my element. Just like everyone else, it takes some time to find this place, but when you are there, it’s a freaking blast. After listening to the best advice I could ever get, I stepped out in faith into something that was a great fit and allowed me to be exactly who I was. I was able to love others in a way that helped them be more of who they were too. Things came natural and there were struggles, but I viewed these as entertaining challenges that caused me to grow in ways that were needed. (I also know what it’s like to paint my life a horrible mauve from the oops shelf that makes you want to vomit when you look at it–don’t worry, I’m not there now.)
So the question becomes: How do I find the color of my life that I was meant to be?
A while ago, I was standing outside under the night sky and appreciating the grandest design of all, nature. Then this popped in my mind:
Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
I remembered that the things in nature are so amazing because they don’t try to be anything other than what they were created to be. This was another opportunity to take a step back and assess where I am and how I got here. Even though where I am is good right now, is it where I’m supposed to be? Do I want to have a life that is pleasing, acceptable, and “good enough” or an absolutely “knock-your-socks-off” life of total fulfillment that is lived for others? (Remember, good is the enemy of great.) When you are looking at the paint swatches of life, I’ll just tell you that it’s great to have access to the best Interior Designer in the universe. I readied myself to hear an honest evaluation of the work in my life… I quickly realized that I made the mistake of wrestling the design plans from the Designer’s hands and made alterations out of desperation and necessity. In order to get where I thought I needed to be, I allowed circumstances to dictate the design of my life, rather than the heart that I’ve been given. It was at that point that I was reminded that my original “life design” was one that I had almost completely forgotten. I had memories flash in my mind of how my design naturally emerged even when I was very young because I didn’t let others make alterations that didn’t need to be there. So standing there, under a magnificent canopy of stars, I knew I had to get to work right away. I also knew it may not be an overnight change, but I had to get started.
So, I challenge you to take a look at your life and try to remember times when you were unhindered to be who you are. It may be so long ago for some of you that it seems like another lifetime. There also may have been an event in your life where someone snuck in and trashed everything. Do you have relationships with others who encourage you to be the best you or are they asking you to make changes that only suit themselves? Here’s a couple things to remember as you are seeking your color:
1. Know that the hard work of “life redesign” can only be done by you. God is more than happy to help and will be with you every step of the way, but keep in mind that He may ask you to do some heavy demolition first. Don’t be a pansy and quit halfway through the job, either.
2. Remember that when you are not who you really are, you rob and short-change others. People can feel this. Ask those who have accepted you no matter what over the years.
3. When you do find your “color,” you can be more available to help others find theirs. You will know how freeing it feels to be who you were created to be, that you’ll appreciate people in a new way. Even if someone does things that I’m not into, it’s fun and inspiring to be around them when they are doing what they love.
Are you living a fulfilled life that is the right “color” for you or are you bogged down and struggling to find it? Either way, leave a comment below and let’s start a discussion. There may be someone else here who can offer some encouragement.
Now In Technicolor,
Jordan*
Today’s No Muck Motto:
The work I need to do in my heart today absolutely cannot wait until tomorrow.
