Identity, Does it Matter?

For the last three years I have been on a journey of becoming fit and caring for my body in a way that honors God with the understanding that I am to be a good steward of all I have been given, my health and my body included. This journey has also been one seeking renewed self confidence and a more positive self image.

Along the way, I have learned many worthy lessons. I will share a few:

• Setting and achieving goals does build confidence. 

• Building physical strength is a great way to build mental toughness and determination because it brings the intangible world of the mind into the tangible world where you get measurable results.

• It is important to finish strong. For example, my goal each time I workout is to finish my last rep with great form and power. If I can't, I do it again because my finish for one workout sets the standard for where I start with the next.  

Perhaps the greatest lesson I have discovered is that a "real" positive self image can't be based on external circumstances. The gym included. Now don't get me wrong, fitness has done a whole lot for me in this journey, and I would encourage anyone to take the first step in living a lifestyle of fitness. It will go a long way in building confidence and alleviating fear; however fitness alone will not create a healthy self image. Its results may be factors that help to change your self image, but it is not where it resides. Self image is found in the heart and in the mind. Let me explain.

I have spoken to people that outwardly have beauty, status, money, strength, health, education and so on, but the large majority of them also have insecurities and not ones they overcome daily but nagging ones that lead to fear and unhealthy self images. So why would outward success not equate to inner success? Because self image is found in something deeper. It is found in how one identifies herself or himself. Many people place their identity in what they can perform, or what outward value they feel they have. The downfall here is that performance naturally leads to comparison and comparison naturally leads to finding someone "better". This can cause a misplaced or loss of identity and a shattered self image that is grounded in external circumstance. So is it possible that the key to having a positive self image is found in having a secure identity?

Jesus was concerned with identity as he asked his followers "Who do people say that I am?" The response showed that there were many opinions on Jesus's identity.  Then Jesus asked "Who do you say that I am?"  Then the answer came, "You are the Son of the living God." Jesus's response was in the affirmative.  read the conversation



What I see here is a secure identity. Because Jesus was secure in His identity as the Son of God, He didn't waiver when his followers responded that some people identified Him differently. He didn't embrace comparisons and question who He was, but rather He embraced His true identity and lived as such.

So this leaves me with a question, where do you find your identity and how does it impact your self image?

And an invitation:
If you have chosen to follow Jesus, I invite you to live as a child of God, a child of a King. If not, I invite you to experience the gift that Jesus gave the world, you included.

Shante