Who Are You?
This is a scary question to ask.There are so many points in life where we begin to question our identity. This question jumped out at me when my business coach sent an email to participate in a challenge.My stomach was in knots and butterflies because I wasn't sure if I was clearly projecting who or how I want others to perceive me.Funny how that works right? We are so intereseted in the way other people view us.The challenge ended up going well. I realized people still view me a bit broad and vague. "Keshna runs a design studio."As I listened to the info my business coach was putting out, the light bulb went off. Everything we had been working on together for the past few months became so much clearer.But then last night that question was still bothering me."Who are you?" Only this time in a different sense. Not regarding to business - the business is not who I am, its what I do.With all the research I've been doing to delve deeper into design thinking, and creative confidence a common thread has been this essence of purpose, mission, a "reason to live".As my business coach read about a few people the information about their business is not what came up first. I touched on it in this previous post, and its in regards to my faith.My faith is part of who I am, part of my beliefs, and entwined with what I do. With this question being relentless in my mind, I googled Identity In Christ and a series came up on YouTube. The series is by Mark Driscoll, is heard of him because I read a previous book by him, "Real Marraige". He was put into my radar due to my boyfriend telling me of his teaching and his readings. As I listened to the first few series, Mark breaks down who we are apart from what we do, and the roles we play. So who am I? I'll preface this to let you know that if you are not a believer in Christ Jesus this may not make sense to you. If you have questions leave a comment and I'll direct you to the best of my ability. As Mark Driscoll breaks it down it makes so much more sense and I now have a better understanding of who I am. I am in Christ. My identity is in Him. A revelation receiver. I am humbly honored- I am below God and above the animals. I am a mirror, a reflection of Him. I reflect his love, his truth, his forgiveness, generosity, his truth - everything begins with God. And I reflect and echo his attributes to the world. All the Glory goes to God. I give what God has given me. I am blessed to be a blessing. And a blessing is not earned - it's given freely. I am a courageous humility, to be bold, generous, loving, truthful, to have conflict as Holy and required, and always asking not: "what will this make me look like but how does this rightly or wrongly reflect God."
How can they see God?
What I am understanding is that it's not about me, it will never be about me. It's always has and will be about God. How can they see God is the right question to ask. How could I reflect, miror image who God is in this moment? Sometimes we are asking the wrong questions. My identity is received - not achieved.
- It's not a performance.
- It's not earned.
- It's not a mere set of attributes.
I am not more valuable than anyone else and I am not less valuable than anyone else. All people are equal in the identity of Christ. Rich, poor, young, old, sick, healthy, first world and thirdworld, born and unborn. My net worth has nothing to do with my self worth. How does this relate to design and design thinking?
- The way I treat my clients need to reflect the way Christ would treat them
- The way I do my work needs to reflect the way Christ would.
- Everything that I do needs to reflect and mirror what and how Christ does.
So who do you believe you are?