If identity is lost, how can it be found? This is the daily service podcast with Anthony Van Dieman. So okay, I want to re establish my identity or okay, okay, I haven't lost it completely, but I want to strengthen my sense of self, my true self. This will be a how to chat.
Okay guys, so roll up your sleeves, okay? Or set aside those dishes for a while, take some notes and get ready for some serious self care work. Okay, let's go. How to get back on track.
In other words, number one, set your standards once again and start making choices based on those new standards. Practice making choices. And whenever you make a choice based on a standard, you know, you and I really have to remind ourselves that there are going to be trade offs. There are benefits and consequences.
And what's important is at the end of the day, the benefits outweigh the consequences. You can't have everything, certainly not all at once. And you can't please everyone. So just for today, whom shall you displace?
Number two, how to get back on track. Embrace a new sense of purpose or mission. Now, in this season, in this season of your life, what should be your mission? Just because your talent, that doesn't mean you need it.
Let's be clear about this. Just because you need it doesn't mean you offer yourself to exhaustion. And just because you were relevant yesterday doesn't mean you should be doing the same thing today. I recall a decade, that's 10 years of my life, when I practically stepped out of all my community advocacies.
I mean growing up, advocacy was my middle name. I mean the whole family. Even in our prayers, over meals, it goes, bless us the Lord, this is the Lord. And may God help us provide for the needs of others.
My parents added that and we prayed that three times a day. Growing up, always thinking of the needs of others. But there was a point in my life when I saw that, the need for growing my business, taking care of it because I had to do it. Also for my family, my kids, who are all young and my son needed help.
That was it. My faith in God, my company, my family. I could not invest more in anything else. So that was a season in my life.
What should you embrace as a sense of purpose in your season of life? Number three, care for yourself. Protect yourself. If you're going to go back, value yourself.
Individuation. I only found out about this word. I know more or less its implications, but the actual meaning, individuation is creating an environment, you know, to strengthen yourself, your independence, your interdependence but boundaries, right? Of some sort.
To solidify the concept of self, not selfishness. It's making sure that you care for you, that you build you the temple of the Holy Spirit. And for kids, it is important that they have this sense of individuation. Yes, they're part of the family, but do they have their own room?
Or if not their own room, at least their own bed or their own box where they keep their personal stuff. And at this stage in your life, perhaps you should spend time alone to take care of yourself, to explore new things, to learn new things, to try out a new hobby. For example, to express yourself. Dina Juan FITNESS EXPERT if you neglect your body, you can forget your dreams.
The illustration about stepping on a peso bill, okay? Behind a peso bill, remember this crumbling. I won't. Have you ever seen this?
I've been doing this for decades. Right? And then. And then you ask the audience, how much is this?
They say, it's 500 pesos. How much is 500 pesos? You know, and step on it. How much is still 100 pesos?
And then you. And then you tell them that what have you gone through? And you've been stepped on. Right.
Your value has not changed. Powerful stuff. I'm just so amazed at the response of one official who set me aside during the break. Mr.
Pangi, can I just illustrate. Can I just comment in your illustration? I said, sure, you know, you violated the bill. Yes.
And that's actually in violation of the law. The central bank forbids, you know, the crumpling of bills. And I'm just quite concerned that people might misunderstand what you're doing. You know, I said.
What you just said is exactly the message I wanted to share, that not just bills, but people of value are being violated or violating themselves, but it does not mean that their value has gone down. So thank you for your feedback, and here's one of the best ways you can keep it. You know, trust me, it will still work. Care for yourself.
Value yourself. Number four. Unbox your gifts. Unbox, you know, rediscover, take.
Take it out. From darkness into light. There are clear indications of who you are and the blessings that have been given to you to store it. You don't use it, you lose it and sometimes yourself in the process.
Number five. Re. Establish your inner circle. Re.
Establish, remake. Spend more time and create more memories with people who value you for who you are as you are. Someone said this, memories are the architecture of our identity. So we've had bad ones then let's build better ones, build good ones, good memories with a new inner circle.
Crystal Raypol and I quote, keep in mind that seeking guidance from others doesn't mean you lack a sense of self. It's entirely healthy, even wise, to talk over difficult decisions with trusted loved ones. At the end of the day, it's important to make the choice that's best for you, regardless of their opinions. Number six, how to get back on track.
How to regain one sense of self or identity. Engage in the present, let go of or memorialize the past. I remember this one presentation I made. It was actually a testimony of how God worked in my life at that particular situation that I was experiencing.
And I saw that the audience moved, they stood up, they gave me a standing ovation. I was in near tears. I went back to my chair and a loved one bent over and said, you talk too much about God. Ouch.
I thought that person would have been proud of me. But you know, every scar I have makes me who I am, right? I won't forget that. But not because I nurture the anger in my heart or that I'm not forgiven.
I've taken it as a lesson to be mindful of my own words, especially during sensitive occasions and celebrations. Timing is everything. Of course, Dr. Seuss must be brought in at this stage when he said, be who you are and say what you feel.
Because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. Number seven. Invest in your growth. Try a new hobby or go back to one that you have set aside.
Joe Monk SAI sai, Founder of Paper Corner he shared with me the other week how he went back to archery. You know, he had to set it aside because he was full blast into growing his business. But at one point when he was able to save, he said, I want to go back to what I've given you. Much joy.
And he said, I considered it that to be a back subject. And you know what? Not to the back subject. We think about it, an unmet need.
The need to go back to something he excelled in. And today he's quite active and winning in competitions once again. Invest in your growth. And by the way, you can always go back.
And finally, number eight, how do we regain identity? Thank God for who you are and for what you have. Whatever you appreciate grows even more in value. The attitude of gratitude.
Psalm 139:14 I praise youe because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works, and that's us, are wonderful. And I know that full well. So if identity needs to be regained.
If it's been lost or strengthened, does it need to be strengthened? How can it be done? S Set your standards once again. E Embrace a new sense of purpose or mission.
Seek care for yourself. You unbox your gifts. R re establish your inner circle. E Engage in the present.
I Invest in your growth and t thank God for who you are and what you have. S E C U R E I T Secure it. Secure that identity, my friend. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live.
But Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the Body. I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Wow.
He has secured you.