From the desk of Kelsey,
Do you have that one tv show you like to just turn on in the background when you’re doing other things around the house?
I’m not much of a tv person, but we occasionally throw on Parks and Rec.
Although I wouldn’t typically turn to Parks and Rec to learn frequent life lessons, one episode in particular struck me recently.
Rashida Jones plays the character of Anne Perkins, a beautiful brunette nurse. In the show, Anne is friends with employees of the parks department and makes frequent trips there.
In this episode, Anne has found a new man!
This particular guy happened to live on a ranch and was very much a “country boy.”
As she goes on a few dates with him, she begins to dress in a lot of country western outfits.
One day, in her typical visit to the parks department office, she strolls in with a shirt on that you could say has….a little too much fringe.
“Girl, why do you always change your style for a man?” Donna, one of the characters asks.
Anne replies, “Oh, do you like my shirt?”
“It’s not my favorite shirt on you….” Donna says. “But it is my least favorite shirt on you.”
Anne looks at Donna feeling very annoyed, but Donna had a good point.
The shirt did not compliment Anne’s beauty and good style, and honestly looked pretty awkward on her.
So what’s the moral of the story?
Anne was trying too hard to change herself to fit who she felt she had to be to impress a guy.
And at the end of the day, it did not “look good on her.”
When we are too worried about what others think and try to change, it rarely looks good on us.
Typically, if we are acting different than our true authentic self, we can come across as awkward to others, and not shine our true light.
So how do I apply this to my own life?
1. Be your own identity
That way, no matter what happens in your life, you will not lose sight of who you are deep down. Know “why you do what you do.”
2. Build Courage
It’s easy to just follow the crowd, but takes courage to pave your own path.
3. Establish boundaries
It’s much easier to know what to say yes to and what to say no to when you are authentically yourself.
In closing, here is a bible verse that reminds us that we should not look on the outside, but instead turn to the inside.
1 Samuel 16: 7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
So what we are trying to say is that we are all made unique, and when we try to change ourselves to fit the needs of others or to just fit in, we lose the unique qualities that God gave us…
Where do you feel like you struggle to be truly you?
Are you different at work or at home? Or do you change who you are or what you wear or how you act with different friends?
What if we were all authentically ourselves no matter what and no matter when… Wouldn’t that be awesome?!
If this is something you struggle with or if you want to talk things through with someone, schedule a call with our career coach, Grace, and she can help you understand how to overcome this challenge!