From a young age, I knew that beauty was not just something we exhibit with our outer appearance, but a trait, and a way to describe someone who is nice, loving, kind, and perhaps even generous. In my mind, someone beautiful was that of the likes of Miss America who was not only pretty in the physical, but usually had something like the pursuit of higher education and a talent going for them. As well as have something pleasing to say about world peace or poverty and make sure to be involved in some sort of charity work if she won. Beauty, and the image of it today is more or less the same expectation. Someone who has brains, talent, a charitable cause, and most importantly in the media today makes sure they don't say anything that would ruffle feathers or make anyone feel uncomfortable.
Growing up, Boldness was something I wanted too. I wanted to go against the crowd. Not give into peer pressure or the fads of the time. I wanted to be a rebel, speak my mind, say things that were not popular opinion. Be an outcast and not afraid to stand by myself.
However, in this day and age of sensitivity, and political correctness, I see you cannot have both. You either live to impress others or impact others. I prefer the latter.
See being beautiful is defined as very pleasing or impressive, good and enjoyable to the senses. Being bold is defined as fearlessness with a sense of confidence, being daring, showing originality and being assertive. The older I get, the more trouble I seem to have picking to be bold rather than beautiful or "pleasing to others".
I find that so many of us want to settle for being "beautiful" or pleasing to be liked. We agree with what media tells us the majority of people believe. We watch the movies that are topping the box office charts, listen to the music that's getting most radio play, watch the TV shows that everyone is watching and read the same books everyone is buying. I see this culture where people no longer form their own opinion about politics, or current events. People just repeat what they are fed, and everyone gets along.
However, I'm learning that it takes a lot to be bold. To stand up for your faith and belief system when you live in a world that finds everything acceptable. It seems we have become this society where we don't speak up or say what's on our mind because of the fear of offending others and not being politically correct. I didn't realize how sensitive we are becoming as a culture. We have accepted this notion that being this beautiful person is one who loves everyone and everything and has nothing to say to ruffle anyone's feathers.
As much as I longed to be beautiful and loved by others, I'm learning it takes courage to be bold. And boldness is not necessarily pleasing, and may actually come across as stuck up. The fact I don't follow TV shows, or mainstream music, and usually have a different view than CNN on current events, may actually make me a bit unlikeable by others. I may not have the same things to talk about, and if asked my opinion on matters of family, child rearing, and morality in this day and age, they may seem a bit out dated.
At 25 years old, I am praying for boldness in every situation I face. I want to teach my kids that more important than being beautiful, liked, pleasing and popular, is the ability to be You, and stand on your beliefs. My faith is something I cannot shy away from. Its what forms me, has made me, remade me, and is the basis for my thinking, my actions and plans. I need to learn to defend it no matter the cause or how uncomfortable it may be. I don't want to be quiet when I should speak up. I don't want to stay still when there's something to do. I want do be BOLD and brave in every area of my life.
Live to impact, not impress! Impressing is temporary, it moves people's emotions at the time and they'll like you while you're around and relevant. Impacting others is something that may cause a transformation in their lives. Be free of the opinions of others. Live for something more. I have found the one I live for and the only thing that matters is what He thinks of me!
"You live for their acceptance, you die from their rejection"- Lecrae, lyrics from "Free from it All"
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