Live a meaningful life

Let me ask you a question: do you like the people who pretend to be somebody else? Are you one of those who try to conform to the others' expectations? Are you being truly yourself? Because being truly yourself means you are true to yourself. The people around you need your own uniqueness, they benefit from your own gifting. It is possible that not everybody will like you. Then why are you searching for their company? If you cannot be yourself with somebody else then chances are he/she isn't the one you should keep company with. I once heard a sermon in which Joel Osteen was saying to go where you are celebrated and not where you are tolerated. I really like what Joyce Meyer noticed, that sometimes we try to fix a piece of puzzle where it does not fit. No matter how hard we try, we can't place the piece where it does not belong. I heard that in business they say that your future is influenced by the books you read and the persons you surround yourself with. Think about it! What kind of future do you want? Are you willing to take responsibility for the direction of your life? Are you being active in pursuing a meaningful life? Then watch out who you hang with! Zig Ziglar wrote a book called "You're born an original, don't die a copy!" Don't try to be somebody else just because someone else will not accept you the way you are. For instance, I have an explosive laugh, so what? I don't have to apologize to anyone for it!!! I mean even in chess, think how ridiculous it would be for the bishop to try to behave like a pawn. It can do it but this will reduce its potential and cause it to become almost useless, like salt loosing its taste, to use a Biblical expression. The Lord Jesus taught that people do not take a lamp and hide it under a bowl. It wouldn't be natural. It would be illogical. The lamp is lit in order to stand above so it can do what it is meant to do, namely to give light. I believe it is time to go out and shine! As the sun governs the day, so can we lighten up the world we live in. We can be on a continual quest not to be approved by everybody, but to brighten people's days. Let us radiate love wherever we go today, by being good to others and celebrate who they are, without trying to make them fit in our own mold. Let us be ourselves. There is freedom in it!