Telling someone to be themselves is just way easier said than done.

That is just my opinion, and I’ll explain why shortly.

I have 2 Questions..

What if a person doesn’t know who they are yet and they’re still searching for purpose and searching for what makes them unique from the rest of us?

AND

What if a person grew up having to be and act like something or someone they weren’t?

It’s just crystal clear that….

“You can’t be yourself if you don’t know yourself.” – Terran

I honestly feel like, in order for anyone to be their true selves, they have to know and be confident in what makes them who they are.

If it’s your talents, education, your religion, your interests, your thoughts, your values, titles, your morals, your likes/dislikes ANYTHING— you must have confidence in what makes you who you are.

“If you don’t stand for something you’ll definitely fall for anything.” -Unknown

I truly believe that quote is the TRUTH because if you can’t stand firmly in confidence and declare that you are a successful man/woman, or that you are intelligent, or that you believe in whatever you believe in or that you are beautiful/handsome, or that you are capable of being and doing what your heart desires, etc. You will fall for EVERYTHING that you’re not and that will result in a very unhappy, but people-pleased life.

And who wants to be a people-pleaser?

NOT I!

But check this out… I used to be a people pleaser. I used to be the one who wasn’t being herself because of

1. Insecurity

2. I simply didn’t know who I was.

3. I grew to not care to know myself because I just KNEW people wouldn’t accept me. (Thought I needed validation from people)

4. People were pleased by my fake acts and they couldn’t tell that I wasn’t being myself so It became my natural throughout the years.

I just cared SO much about what people thought of me. It WAS BAD!!

Looking back and just seeing the young girl I used to be and who I am becoming now? MY GOD!!

But yes, I used to be a people pleaser and it was all good until I got tired of the act. I got tired of faking! I realized that while I was so busy caring about what others were thinking, I ended up gipping myself from what I believe now is the most important phase and season of our lives, our Caterpillar season!

I believe that this is the most important season of our lives (The season of Growth, which honestly never stops… but that’s another story to tell for another time) because this is where we find out who we are, what we like, what we dislike, our interests, our values, our beliefs, our morals, what makes us different, etc. That’s just what I believe. It Gives us something to stand on, gives us foundation.

The photo above just speaks so many volumes because let’s pretend you don’t know the process of the caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Isn’t it amazing to know that once you STOP cutting yourself short, and you stop caring about what others think of you, and you START getting to know yourself and accepting yourself for who you are that you’ll end up a beautiful butterfly? In other words, you are going to be who and what you’ve always wanted to be regardless of what others are saying? Isn’t that just amazing? Doesn’t that picture just make you want to shout and scream? To know that you’re not going to look like what you’ve been through.. MY GOD! It sure makes me want to shout and scream. It’s just amazing to me how the caterpillar looks NOTHING like what it’s going to turn into. It’s almost like it’s a surprise like BOOM got you, never thought you’d grow to be like that type of thing.

That can be YOU!

How many people have called you ugly? How many people have told you that you weren’t going to make it, or that you just didn’t have a chance? Have you ever felt that you weren’t cool enough? Or that you just didn’t look good enough? Have you ever put yourself to the side and did what people wanted you to do? Have you ever…..

I just want to encourage you to STOP caring about what others think.. Stop cutting yourself short.. Stop settling for less and just imagine yourself in this picture below.

Imagine yourself finally in your season of growth.. Imagine yourself just being so far into your season that you go into hiding/secret place (Cocoon) where you’re just so comfortable with who you are, not caring about what others have to say about YOU because you know who you are! You’re literally chilling. Lol Just imagine yourself having that confidence. Amazing isn’t it? Feels wonderful doesn’t it?

ENDURE your caterpillar season and don’t let anyone take it from you. Better yet, don’t gip yourself from it. Go on and grow into that butterfly.

“Find yourself, so you can confidently be Yourself.” -Terran

You’re probably wondering where and how did I end up who I am today? My answer is GOD! Jesus my Lord and my savior. The day I rededicated my life to the Lord (Which is another story to tell) was the day I decided to go into my caterpillar season! It’s never ever too late!

I wouldn’t be myself right now, if I didn’t add a scripture in.

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭14-17‬ ESV)”

Please be encouraged and stay uplifted and also remember that ALL BUTTERFLIES DO NOT LOOK, ACT, nor FLY the same! They are their unique selves (the photo above) so

BE YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF

&

DON’T BE ASHAMED!

Feel free to like, share, comment.

Loveeeeeee T.💛