Beyoutiful

Two questions I’ve noticed really start to come to people’s minds more often with all that’s going on in the world—

1. How can I make this world a better place?

2. What’s my purpose in life?

Believe it or not I’d like to weigh in some answers to both questions, for free, right now 😂 let’s go—

     EMBRACE BEING WHO YOU ARE. If you think you’re pretty cliche, embrace it. Whether you really like wearing sweatpants 24/7 or you’d rather dress up, or none of the above or something in between, embrace it. If you’re a whimsically mixed adventure bag of constant analysis and overflowing emotion (lol me), FRICKING EMBRACE IT. Wherever and whoever you are in life, embrace it fully without apologizing or excusing with the understanding that you will always be under construction because this world needs you to be unashamedly you. Even if you don’t really know who you are and you’re still trying to figure that out— EMBRACE IT!! Learning to not only accept but embrace your current circumstances will give you a better headspace to notice the truth and hope around you when it wouldn’t be seen otherwise.

     And the best part is, you don’t have to do so at the expense of others, as if you’re better than them, but under the recognition that everyone is simultaneously similar and unique. Our differences make each other better just as much as our similarities knit us together. I can love being me and love watching you be you without us having to have the same perspectives or modes of operation. This FREES us because it means we can remain secure in our identities, knowing that one of us is not better than another, we’re just different.  And it’s so freaking incredible. Through this, we experience more joy, security, and awe-inspiring moments.

     The reason we can do this is because our value is not assigned to what we do or how we see things. This point is vital because it leaves room for us to have grace for ourselves and for others. If we were constantly being labeled as “better” or “worse” compared to others based on how much we know or how live, we’d be fighting a losing battle because it’s all changing on a daily basis and so many things don’t even have an objective standard, so trying to meet one is rendered obsolete. Instead of deciding someone is worse than us because he or she doesn’t eat as healthy as we do or someone else is better than us because said person has more money than we do, so on and so forth.

     We ought to look at people with a perspective that says, “Hey. I see you and who you are is awesome.” Rather than, “I see what you do (wear nicer/less nice clothes than I do), or what you think (a different religion or political background than me) and that will be a relative marker of your value for which I will compare mine.” We are not our mistakes or successes. Our identity is not the same as our ideas. You can have a bad idea and not be a bad person. It sounds simple enough, but I think the message gets lost in translation all too often. I know when I have a bad idea, I often feel like it’s a symbol of who I am as a person but the good news is that it’s not!

*exhales*

     All of this is a large part of why my internet cameo is Lovin Life as Emma, because my mission is relatively simple— to love the beautiful mess of life I’ve been allotted as much as I possibly can while being the best ME that I possibly can be, because if I spend most of life trying to become or keep up with everyone else I have a feeling I’ll look back on life having enjoyed it very little. One of the biggest benefits I’ve seen through this mindset is that living this way allows me to be a better support for others, to uplift and encourage them to look around at the traits, situations, dreams, and opportunities they’ve been given and think “How can I love this life that’s been granted me?” Because ultimately that’s all we can do and if you do so unto the glory of the One who created you, you will find fulfillment in His purposes. So today I pray that you would look around you at the life you’ve been given and choose to love it as much as you’re able by being the best YOU you can be by embracing who you are and where you’re at right now, then encouraging others to do the same.

“I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;

also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:12-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Forever and Always,

  Emma

                 #lovinlifeasemma2017