“What you want to pursue — what we all want to pursue — is being a kind of person, not presenting a kind of persona. What a tragedy to give our lives to painting a mask, a persona, and neglect the person that is inside and real… It is an awesome thing to be a person — a person in the image of God.”

John Piper

Amazing how things change. Rather, how He changes me.

Things that used to matter a lot have taken a backseat to things more important.

Things I worried about have been exchanged for new, deeper things.

10 years ago, to feel okay and confident in a room I HAD to be put together on the outside.

Today, to feel okay and confident in a room I want to be attune to the Lord — what He thinks about me, what is true of me in light of Him, who He is.

10 years ago, my hair needed to be freshly showered and extra curly, makeup had to be on, style should be relevant.

Today, I like my 2-day-old hair, makeup feels better when it’s minimal and I hardly notice my clothes as long as I’m comfortable.

I eventually realized how much my ‘needs’ were distractions and how much the distractions were wearying.

I heard Shauna Niequist say once that ‘you can’t connect and compare at the same time.’ If I’m super self-conscious, I’m hardly thinking about the person I’m talking too. If I’m overthinking my appearance there is little space left for considering another person and what loving them could look like.

It is QUITE freeing to realize that it’s not necessary to be popular, look culturally beautiful or dress stylish to love God and love people. Deciding what’s distracting to you and then simplifying is one key to contentment, in my experience. We all probably have different boundary lines. I feel pretty in a little eyeliner and a headband over day-old hair, so I do it with joy and give more attention to the person in front of me.

It matters more what someone experiences of God’s love as they experience me… and it matters less what they think of my face or endearing personality or outfit.

What helps your flourishing + focus on God and others and what hinders it?

May we be a different kind of person today in our culture… someone who enjoys caring for themselves because they are inherently valuable and made in the image of God… someone who considers others more important than themselves… someone who doesn’t NEED to have “perfect” appearance to be at peace or content… someone who is wise, free and full of joy.