Growing up in a devoted religious household, life was based on living right. Sundays meant church, evenings were for family prayers and most decisions made in life had to be aligned under the will of Christ. Being a Christian pretty much involved living an exceptional life not guided by worldly doctrines.
How I lost
As I got to my late teenage years, I slowly started being drawn to the world outside my religious bubble. Gradually my preference started to change, this involved the type of movies I watch trickling down to the type of music I started consuming. I began adjusting to the different social trends displayed on social media, slowly eroding the virtues my parents had worked so hard to instil in me. Unfortunately, it was an era when the phrase ‘my dress my choice’ was the modern form of expression. Most of the guys I surrounded myself with were advocates of loosening up and through observing their stress-free lifestyle, I couldn’t help but question my rigid upbringing. My identity slowly started to blur and shift, gradually I started viewing my life in a different lens.
I understand the importance of the strict upbringing my parents provided, preparing me for the harsh realities of the world. While the world offers beauty, it also presents challenges and temptations that can lead us astray.
Then vs now
As a kid however, I viewed life in a non-complex way, life was pretty much easy and often than not I would find it easy making the right choices. How I wish I could turn back time and erase all the bad decisions I’ve made while subscribing to some random patterns. I later on realized being lost might be God’s way of aligning us onto the right path. The parable of the lost sheep tells us that God is willing to leave the ninety-nine just to find that lost one.
Fast-forward, I now understand why my folks chose to raise me up in a stern approach. I wasn’t aware that it was a way of preparing me to face the harsh world in years to come. In my opinion, the world was a wonderful place to be in, only to realize it was just an illusion generated from all the junk animations I consumed as a kid.
Though beautiful the world is dark, truth is no one was born to stagger in misfortunes or run in debts, neither was anyone born to suffer; and I decide to believe the same world that creates heroes is the same that chooses who becomes a villain. Believe it or not villains were also good people, probably raised properly like me and you but due to all the negative noise they got from those around they lost their true identity and turned a new leaf.
I’m I loosing myself
The following three are ways one could easily disorient themselves from their true identity
1. Not prioritizing alone time
This must be one of the most important aspects of actual self realization, however if one refrains from this, loosing out is most likely to happen. In this stage lots of introspection is encouraged with habits like meditation and shadow work taking the core.
2. Seeking approval from others
This is a major point of concern, especially to most young adults. Listening to others will most likely get you on the bus of loosing yourself, I speak about this with utmost experience. I used to suppress my needs and wants just to gain acceptance and gain the sense of self belonging. According to the book of Isaiah 43:4,we are assured that even if we seek validation from the godliest of people, we will never feel fully validated.
Read: Embracing Mental Health: A Journey Of Faith And Healing
3. Conformity trap
Social media places a facade that life is sweet, even with vices like alcohol and drug abuse taking place . This has made many to imitate this. The lifestyles of our very own celebrities that depict success has made many to choose a different path, leading many to lose their identity. Romans 12:2 encourages us not to conform to any patterns of the world, but we should be transformed by the renewal of the mind which comes through reading the word.
Conclusion
There is a lot to consider as far as being lost is concerned, the truth is we all are lost and that’s why we seek Jesus. By recognizing our limitations and admitting we are lost, we open a door for profound change. This opens the path to guidance and a clear sense of direction. We also ought to refrain from being the judge of anyone’s reality, after all we all are strangers healing together, aren’t we?
What a journey! Glad it’s working out.