1. Don't take yourself so seriously.
Forgive yourself when you need to. Know that I am not perfect and be okay with that.
2. Don't take other people too seriously either.
That sounds mean, but what I'm trying to say is that no matter what, people are going to be people. Even the people you look up to the most are going to do dumb things. Go ahead, learn from others. Befriend others. But remember that they are too flawed and dysfunctional people in one way or another to be the object of your imitation. Scripture teaches us to be imitators of Christ, who will never let us down.
3. Don't take the "cutting edge" too seriously.
Consistency is more important than staying culturally "relevant." I have never liked fads very much, especially when it comes to church. Sure, you want to be incarnational, but too many church leaders are just chasing after the latest, coolest thing. I'm not into all that. Right now, the church pendulum has swung over to the "discipleship" side of the evangelism/discipleship spectrum. I'm all for going deeper, but how about going wider? Can our arms spread wider to accept more people into our churches? Show me a church that is equally passionate about evangelism and discipleship and I will show you a church that doesn't take the "cutting edge" too seriously.
4. Don't take your life too seriously.
I need to be careful with this one, but what I'm learning is that I have often erred on the side of being too driven and serious to see the world change in some way or another. But how do I know that my best efforts are going to achieve a qualitative improvement over what we already had? If I died, I would be missed, I know that. But the world would keep spinning on. The fate of the world doesn't rest in my hands. In fact, nothing really rests in my hands. I am but a mist. I'm here for a little while and then I will vanish. So feel free to laugh, have fun, and enjoy the sunshine! The world and all of its cares will still be here when you get back!
5. Take commitment seriously.
Whether to your spouse, to your boss, to your friends, to your mentees, to your kids, or your co-workers, honor the commitments you make. As the wise Turbo Man once said in Jingle All the Way: "Always keep your promises if you want to keep your friends." I haven't always been the best at this, but it is one area in which God is growing me.
6. Be seriously comfortable in your own skin.
There are things that I don't really like about myself. But I don't need to change who I am to accept myself. God accepts me, why shouldn't I accept myself? And why shouldn't you for that matter? If you need to change who you are to feel accepted, sounds like you're hanging out with the wrong people.
Forgive yourself when you need to. Know that I am not perfect and be okay with that.
2. Don't take other people too seriously either.
That sounds mean, but what I'm trying to say is that no matter what, people are going to be people. Even the people you look up to the most are going to do dumb things. Go ahead, learn from others. Befriend others. But remember that they are too flawed and dysfunctional people in one way or another to be the object of your imitation. Scripture teaches us to be imitators of Christ, who will never let us down.
3. Don't take the "cutting edge" too seriously.
Consistency is more important than staying culturally "relevant." I have never liked fads very much, especially when it comes to church. Sure, you want to be incarnational, but too many church leaders are just chasing after the latest, coolest thing. I'm not into all that. Right now, the church pendulum has swung over to the "discipleship" side of the evangelism/discipleship spectrum. I'm all for going deeper, but how about going wider? Can our arms spread wider to accept more people into our churches? Show me a church that is equally passionate about evangelism and discipleship and I will show you a church that doesn't take the "cutting edge" too seriously.
4. Don't take your life too seriously.
I need to be careful with this one, but what I'm learning is that I have often erred on the side of being too driven and serious to see the world change in some way or another. But how do I know that my best efforts are going to achieve a qualitative improvement over what we already had? If I died, I would be missed, I know that. But the world would keep spinning on. The fate of the world doesn't rest in my hands. In fact, nothing really rests in my hands. I am but a mist. I'm here for a little while and then I will vanish. So feel free to laugh, have fun, and enjoy the sunshine! The world and all of its cares will still be here when you get back!
5. Take commitment seriously.
Whether to your spouse, to your boss, to your friends, to your mentees, to your kids, or your co-workers, honor the commitments you make. As the wise Turbo Man once said in Jingle All the Way: "Always keep your promises if you want to keep your friends." I haven't always been the best at this, but it is one area in which God is growing me.
6. Be seriously comfortable in your own skin.
There are things that I don't really like about myself. But I don't need to change who I am to accept myself. God accepts me, why shouldn't I accept myself? And why shouldn't you for that matter? If you need to change who you are to feel accepted, sounds like you're hanging out with the wrong people.