In Others’ Words: Correcting the Compass

Discovery — sometimes the process appeals to me.

And sometimes, well, sometimes it doesn’t.

The whole adventure of discovering me? I’ve alternated between ignoring myself … and chasing after myself demanding, “Stop running away and just tell me who you are!”

I am all for discovering what I do. We’re confronted with that “What do you want to be when you grow up?” question at ridiculously early ages. Let kids pretend … imagine that they can be anything and anybody … because isn’t that what being a child is all about? Imagining anything and everything?

The more important discovery? Discovering ourselves – what we value, what we long for, what beliefs guide us, what truths anchor us when we’re blown off course by disappointments.Values like honesty, generosity, respect, and loyalty.

My son-in-love, Nate, has a tattoo on his arm. (Now bear with me if you don’t care for tattoos. This post isn’t about tattoos. I merely want to make a point and I want to make it using Nate’s tattoo.) Okay … so it’s the drawing of a compass and each point of the compass (north, south, east, and west) points to a cross. Why? Because no matter where Nate’s headed in life, that’s his destination: the cross. He’s anchored himself to God and how Jesus’s sacrificial death changed his life. Nate’s destination reveals who he is and what he values.

Here’s my point: I am thankful I know me — and what I do. I am even more thankful that I’ve discovered who I am — and that I learned, slowly, to be me. To trust me. To stay true to me — and what I value, what I know is true.

In Your Words: What has helped you discover who you are? If you were to alter the points on a compass to reflect you and your values, how would you change them? 

Correcting the Compass: an act of self-discovery Click to Tweet

Discovering Yourself & Trusting Yourself Click to Tweet