What IS a BOX anyway?

“Thinking outside the box.” “Living outside the box.”

We hear these phrases all the time.

And so I ask you, WHAT is a BOX?

As a well-practiced People Pleaser, I do believe I was living inside a box of other people’s expectations, their opinions of me, their considerations of what was a worthy pursuit for my life, their molding of my behaviors, and what were acceptable expressions of who I am.

I truly had to shake off the binders and chains in order to break out of my box.

For a taste of what my FREEDOM looks like see Girls Can.

I know that God created me to be THIS person…who I am able to be (have allowed myself to be) now. Perhaps it’s age and wisdom. Maybe I just got too tired to try to be everyone’s opinion of me.

Or perhaps it was finally realizing my worth.

I did come to learn that when we allow others to “box us in” our experiences are boxed in too. We are bound by other’s opinions especially if we allow them to dictate the choices we make. I do not refer to consulting people of wisdom. I need others in my life who will help me consider options. But I do not need those who will think less of me if I don’t follow their advice.

I am a very opinionated person. I truly desire that my opinions come from a heart of love and compassion and a spirit that seeks after God. (I cannot stand cruelty, evil, injustice, and the horrid things humans do to other humans.)

I have been criticized. And I will continue to be, because I don’t neccessarily fit the box of a “typical” American God-follower. (I spent a lot of time writing and praying before I pushed the “publish” button on my last post as I do with every post. It’s a huge responsibility and risk to put my words and opinions out into cyber space forever!)  However I try to seek God with all my heart, show love and compassion, and harm no one. If my way of being “Jesus with skin on” is different from yours and you don’t like it, well, it’s not my intention to offend. But Jesus offended many with His choices.

I would encourage you to learn to know your own self. To BE your own self. And not let the outside opinions, society, media, and sometimes even family, dissuade you from choosing to honor who you were created to be. I lost a lot of years of my life with my light hidden. I decided the world was missing out and I was incomplete and dying on the vine. So now I choose life!

Oh. And that BOX? It was flattened quite a while ago!

 

Have a wonderful week of self-discovery folks! And thank you so much for hanging in here with me.

Passionista Mimi