Most people find it hard to be self-aware. You know, self-aware: realizing all the areas of weakness in your life that should change or managed gently. Yup, I’d say that is a sub-par definition, but a definition nonetheless. Which is part of being self-aware because I always like explaining things to people in terms that simplify stuff. See! I’m TOTALLY self-aware! Just kidding. Well—half kidding.
In my quest to become more self-aware I’ve created list of things that need to change or be managed emotionally:
- I like lists and bullet points [case in point]
- I’m neurotic about stuff that doesn’t matter [soap scum on shower doors]
- I wear my emotions like a tacky tattoo [everyone sees it but wishes it doesn’t exist]
- I love rules [except driving rules]
- Rules mean competitions [bring. it. on.]
- Competitions mean results [Winning! —said like Charlie Sheen]
The benefit of being self-aware is realizing the lens in which you see life. I didn’t put together all these points of weakness in my life until recently. How I lived my life, the decisions I made, and how I worshipped God looked so different once realizing how I was created. The benefit is realizing this “lens” of life also determines how I view God and my relationship with Him.
Rules. Bullet points. Emotional. Winning. Those in and of themselves those attributes aren’t issues to be concerned with, but when they predispose my disposition towards God, we have have a problem.
Up until recently I viewed my relationship with God as a series of completed lists I could scratch off, bullet points I could jot down, and rules I followed. But is that how God wanted me to life in relationship with him? No way, Jose! I needed to have my mind recalibrated to truly understand how I am to live out the Christian life.
Tonight is the second week in the Marked By Love series. Last week we discovered how our identities change when we encounter Jesus and this week we’re discussing what a MIND marked by love looks like. No rule, no religion, just relationships!
If you still want to come, this is the last week you can sign up at the door. If you’ll be joining us live, click here at 7:00PM PST to join us for worship with Evan Wickham, hip hop poet Prop Hip Hop, and DJ Bobbito the Chef. It’s totally FREE. Unfortunately, I won’t be posting the videos online anymore 🙁 At the end of the series, all sessions will be available for purchase.
In light of being self-aware, let’s talk about you! Are you self-aware? What are you like? Keep it real! 😉
Quel Desastre! But I understand your reasons for doing it. I'm going to have to find someone I can bribe to take notes for me so I don't have to wait 5 weeks!! 😉
I've been thinking a lot about self-awareness recently – is it the same as self-analysing? I think I fall into the trap of being too self-aware, or too self-analysing – comes from a childhood of being sick and having people question whether I really was or whether I was putting it on. I guess I've taken that on myself now, only I apply it to every aspect of myself and not just my illness. Someone attacks me (verbally), I defend myself but then spend the weeks afterwards reliving it and realising everything I did wrong.
I think there has to be a fine balance otherwise you will go crazy. I will gladly allow you to use me as the case and point!
Hopefully you won't have to wait this long! I promise 🙂 You're my favorite Brit!
ah shucks! Thanks! Could you do me a favour? Next time you see Mr. 'we don't celebrate your independance' could you thank him for making the competition so easy for me?! Although, in his defense I have been thinking if you hadn't have become independant it might be easier for me to move over there – but then I saw a video of pretty fireworks and I forgave you 🙂
Hope it went well last night 🙂
I do not understand?
I have a werrrd for you from the Lord. Something that He taught me that I want to share with you. And it's available to you completely FREE,(here comes the fine print), only on this day at this specific time. If you are not available than you SOL. Not available to hear this free word during that time? No worries, you can still hear it but Girl now you got to PAY! Oh and here is the booklet and homework but you will have to wait til the end of the series and then pay to get caught up?
???? So, "It's totally FREE" isn't really TOTALLY free.
I actually really enjoy your speaking and am disappointed I will not be able to watch online. May the Lord continue to use you to bless others!
have you read the previous posts about the summer series? those attending the event in person have to pay – the facilities, the people, the booklet all cost money, so there has to be a charge somewhere otherwise B wouldn't be able to teach. If its free online how does she cover her costs? I understand your frustration, I really do, but I don't think this was an easy or unnecessary decision to make – maybe cut Bianca some slack?
No, I have not read previous posts. I have absolutely no knowledge of a summer series or the fees. It's is completely reasonable for you to say that you understand AND completely reasonable for me to say that I do not understand. From some of the discourse above, it seems as though you might know Bianca personally so I can understand you wanting to have her back. I am simply pointing out a bit of a discrepancy with what is in print. Having heard Bianca speak only a few times and given the sense of humor she seems to have, laced with a bit of its own sarcasm. I'm guessing she can probably handle what I wrote. I was wondering why she had not charged for this series. Glad that Bianca can charge for some AND that she is trying to make some available for free. I meant the blessing I said earlier. May the Lord continue to bless her and use her to bless others. I am actually not frustrated at all, I was only slightly disappointed because I liked what I heard. By the way I have paid to hear her speak before, totally worth it!
Thanks for explaining it, Suzanne! It means a lot for you to understand my predicament.
Jen, just so you know, I don't get paid to do this series. Like, not one dime. The bands we bring in, the costs for everything, the booklets, the food for our guest musicians, the DJ… it's all covered for those who attend the class. The sessions are offered FREE online live.
The reason my church asked to change the layout is because for everything else within our radio ministry, we have to keep the rules the same. There shouldn't be special privileges. Perhaps we'll do something at the end of the series to defer costs for the online audience, but as of now, that's the protocol.
Friend, I am not worried about what you get paid, I am not wanting you to break any rules nor am I asking you to ask for special privileges.
Follow your protocol girl. Do what you got to do to get the werrd out! The people that are supposed to hear it, will. God is not limited by protocol.
I'll bet if someone missed the series and really needed to hear it, you would find a way to get it to them for free.
Y'all missed my point (clearly, not as comical to you, as it was to me.) "It’s totally FREE. Unfortunately…"
I guess there's no accounting for taste!
May the Lord's ministry through you continue to thrive.
I am the same way!! Wear my emotions on my sleeve, like bullet points and lists, and have viewed my relationship with the Lord as a series of completed lists I could scratch off. Can't wait for tonight's Bible study!!! I will be tuning in from Alabama 🙂 God bless you.
Alabama!? WOOHOO! So fun 🙂 Totally going to give you a shout out today, Tara!
🙁 I am in Florida…
You'll be getting a shout out for sure!
I have to have a goal. If I can see the finish line I can handle to present but without seeing that finish line I become a mess. I’ve been that way in my relationship with God and in that I too have my check list in my relationship with God. I constantly am trying to put that check list away and remember it is not what I can or could do for God but that He has already completed the entire check list and I in return ought to bring Him glory
You and me both, Tessa!
I am aware that there is so much God needs to change in my life. I am willing, I am open, but most importantly, I am ready… Forgetting the past, and moving forward
I guess I'm the only one here that is aware of her shortcomings but is afraid of change.
Cindy, not at all! I'm learning slowly to be better about change but it still freaks me out. I've become more self aware that I'm kind of a control freak when it comes to my life. I'm not a big fan of the unknown. But like Bianca said last week, the only way to change is to do it. As scary as it is, just remember that God is in control and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good. Even if we stumble and fall, he loves us and we love you!
Brandy, were you here on Tuesday? Oh my goodness! If you're here tonight, you have to say hello.
Cindy, don't be afraid. And true is, the change will happen in one way or another 😉
Thanks for the encouragement Brandmuffin78!
Bi, your shoutout made me smile. Thanks for reminding me to clear the junk outta my head and be renewed daily.
These days it seems like change is my only constant, and yes, it's inevitable. I just feel like the man who told Jesus "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" This is who I am. Right. Now.
I am aware that I'm sensitive to criticism. I tend to take it personal.
ME TOO! Even from those who love me. I'm such a baby!
Lets see I am….
~ Critical (Why when someone is beautiful, I search for what is wrong with them so I can feel better about myself)
~ Self absorbed (I spend way to much energy worrying how fat I am getting, how many wrinkles I am getting ex.)
~ Controlling (I need to give control of my life to God in every area not just the ones that make me conformable)
Wow! I don't know if I like myself very much right now. I am going to work on these!
Thanks for being honest…I can totally relate with you. All I can say is that it's not easy being a woman.
I am aware that I tend to be quite emotional. It's a problem sometimes. My parents never knew what to do with me as a child and my friends sometimes have a hard time dealing with me when I can be overly emotional – it's bad.
As a side note: I'm bummed that the videos won't be available as a podcast. Since I'm in Massachusetts, it is sometimes hard to stay up to watch live.
I think the videos might not be posted through the blog, but will still be downloadable through iTunes… All the past series are up on iTunes so I think this summer may be the same. *hopes*
I where my emotions on my sleeves, like if you saw my face right now you could tell that i'm very sad about not being able to webstream your bodaciously rad sermon tonight from good ole Tejas……
I lived so long being totally unaware of any potential that I had, so when I realized that God had bigger plans for me, it kind of came as a surprise! Anyway, I wrote the following in a blog post a couple months ago on a day I was struggling with self-worth and just trying to see who God wanted me to be and who he created me to be. Anyway, I think it sums up where I'm at! Here you go!
"My name is Julie. I like basketball, strawberry-pretzel salad and a great new movie, usually of the romantic comedy genre. I don’t like confrontation, too-cold temperatures or too-hot temperatures. I eat too much most of the time. I don’t exercise enough. I’d play guitar better if I’d practice more, and my writing really suffers when I’m not in the Word. My musical interests range from Hillsong to Heart, from Poison to Passion and from Janis Joplin to Jars of Clay. If you would happen to stop by my house and I’m not expecting you, it will probably be messy, and I’ll probably be talking to myself trying to get motivated to clean or work out. I’d like to write a book at some point in my life…hopefully soon. I sometimes don’t like myself when I look in the mirror. The longer I know Jesus, though, the more I like who He created. The sins I struggle with, I’ve struggled with for years. Sometimes I feel like I’m not worth putting effort into, but then I hear a little whisper that I am. He created me. And because He created me I know one thing for sure.
I Am Enough.
Because of who He is.
I. Am. Enough."
I'm aware that I compare myself to others too easily and I always come away feeling bad about myself. I'm aware that I really struggle to take criticism and disagreements. I'm aware that I stay in my comfort zone rather than take risks. And I'm aware that I am completely rubbish at hiding my emotions!
Totally gutted that I won't be able to follow along with the podcasts 🙁
I'll just have to be patient, and then watch all the sessions in one day!!! x
I'm way too self aware.
Everything I do, I can analyse and know why I do it.
Managing it? Another story altogether.
Changing it? IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!
Great post! I am definitely the type to wear my emotions on my sleeve as well. I've been in some pickles because my loved ones can really tell when I'm angry and can't get over something (usually something ridiculous). I'm also very critical of others which makes me critical of myself ten times more. It's a crazy cycle that I need to break free of.
I am so sad that I won't be able to watch online anymore. 🙁
bummer! totally won't be able to watch them live but happy for you guys that you'll be able to sell the series for the church!!! 😉 BTW… self-aware has been my middle name since birth – i can totally donate a little to everyone if needed! 😉 xo
I love this! I am going to listen to Week #2 and then I'll respond. 😉
I am self-aware although sometimes I feel I may be too self-aware and on the verge of self-conscious, self-absorbed,greedy, etc.
I also like bullets 😉 so here are a few of my weaknesses:
-I like to be in control of everything
-I am too sensitive and others have to walk around eggshells around me (namely my husband)
-I tend to be "religious" although I despise that word
-I am competitive and compare myself to others
-I am way too emotional and easily affected by what others say or do
-I am greedy and don't like to share my husband with the church (sometimes)
Thank you Bianca!
So, You’ve got to prevent as well as smell the roses.
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