Hello everybody,
Something I was thinking about the other day... are there any characteristics about yourself that you were always self-conscious about, but seemed to lessen in importance over time? Did people convince you that the horrible flaw you perceived didn't really exist or wasn't as bad as you thought? How did you get over these things and what made it better?
Of course, as believers, we are all loved and accepted by God as we are. Acceptance from God is great... but... in the real world, unfortunately, we still have to deal with unacceptance from others (including ourselves), which God wants us to overcome. What is your best advice or story about overcoming an insecurity?
During the younger years of my life, one of my many physical flaws was that my front teeth were slightly discolored. Being adopted (I was found in a cardboard box in front of a theater in Seoul, Korea--hence the chat name SeoulSearch), I have no record of my family history, but the dentist told my Mom it was probably because I had become very sick as an infant or that it might have been because of something my birth mother took or ingested while carrying me.
Unfortunately, it was in the beginning days of toothpaste commercials that bombarded the public with a massive fear of tartar buildup on the teeth ("tartar control" formulas were just appearing and were being mass-marketed everywhere.)
One of the most popular boys at my Lutheran school came up to me one day in front of several of the other kids and said to me very loudly, "You know, if you brushed your teeth, you might be able to get rid of those tartar stains..." He gave me the smuggest, cockiest smile, nodded to himself in approval after everyone stared at me and laughed, and walked away fully satisfied with his supposedly clever comment. (Is this the part where I'm supposed to say, "God bless you," through my gritted, color-blocked teeth...)
Needless to say, I was thoroughly mortified and while some will call this "cheating", when I grew older, I opted to have this corrected through porcelain veneers. I also have to admit that if there were procedures for everything I felt I needed to "fix" about myself, I would probably undergo them if I could afford it. No matter how hard I try, somewhere inside, the insecure little girl still exists, and I'm still a work in progress of trying to allow God to renew my mind.
In high school, a teacher saw me in shorts and asked me if I was a runner--I realize this could be seen as a compliment, but in my painfully insecure teenage mind, I thought she was pointing me out as an example of someone who was so obese that I should never be seen wearing shorts. (I thought to myself, "The only place I run to is the refrigerator...") As the years have gone by, ironically... friends of mine have told me shorts are one of the most flattering things I can wear... I don't see it but I sometimes choose to listen, if I'm feeling overly daring (and no, I don't wear anything shorter than walking-length shorts!)
I know we are to listen to God's opinion of us more than anyone else in this world, but as we all know, it's a struggle, because when people make fun of us or cut us down, God doesn't intervene with a booming voice from heaven in our defense.
How have you personally overcome some of your own insecurities, or are you still in the midst of the struggle?
Please feel free to share your pains, tips, and advice on how we can all come to accept ourselves as God does, despite what anyone else thinks or tells us.
P.S. (Zeroturbulence--according to the "checklist" in your threads, I definitely DO NOT qualify as an attractive woman, which is why I opted not to post in your last thread--thanks so much for clearing up any doubt!
)
Something I was thinking about the other day... are there any characteristics about yourself that you were always self-conscious about, but seemed to lessen in importance over time? Did people convince you that the horrible flaw you perceived didn't really exist or wasn't as bad as you thought? How did you get over these things and what made it better?
Of course, as believers, we are all loved and accepted by God as we are. Acceptance from God is great... but... in the real world, unfortunately, we still have to deal with unacceptance from others (including ourselves), which God wants us to overcome. What is your best advice or story about overcoming an insecurity?
During the younger years of my life, one of my many physical flaws was that my front teeth were slightly discolored. Being adopted (I was found in a cardboard box in front of a theater in Seoul, Korea--hence the chat name SeoulSearch), I have no record of my family history, but the dentist told my Mom it was probably because I had become very sick as an infant or that it might have been because of something my birth mother took or ingested while carrying me.
Unfortunately, it was in the beginning days of toothpaste commercials that bombarded the public with a massive fear of tartar buildup on the teeth ("tartar control" formulas were just appearing and were being mass-marketed everywhere.)
One of the most popular boys at my Lutheran school came up to me one day in front of several of the other kids and said to me very loudly, "You know, if you brushed your teeth, you might be able to get rid of those tartar stains..." He gave me the smuggest, cockiest smile, nodded to himself in approval after everyone stared at me and laughed, and walked away fully satisfied with his supposedly clever comment. (Is this the part where I'm supposed to say, "God bless you," through my gritted, color-blocked teeth...)
Needless to say, I was thoroughly mortified and while some will call this "cheating", when I grew older, I opted to have this corrected through porcelain veneers. I also have to admit that if there were procedures for everything I felt I needed to "fix" about myself, I would probably undergo them if I could afford it. No matter how hard I try, somewhere inside, the insecure little girl still exists, and I'm still a work in progress of trying to allow God to renew my mind.
In high school, a teacher saw me in shorts and asked me if I was a runner--I realize this could be seen as a compliment, but in my painfully insecure teenage mind, I thought she was pointing me out as an example of someone who was so obese that I should never be seen wearing shorts. (I thought to myself, "The only place I run to is the refrigerator...") As the years have gone by, ironically... friends of mine have told me shorts are one of the most flattering things I can wear... I don't see it but I sometimes choose to listen, if I'm feeling overly daring (and no, I don't wear anything shorter than walking-length shorts!)
I know we are to listen to God's opinion of us more than anyone else in this world, but as we all know, it's a struggle, because when people make fun of us or cut us down, God doesn't intervene with a booming voice from heaven in our defense.
How have you personally overcome some of your own insecurities, or are you still in the midst of the struggle?
Please feel free to share your pains, tips, and advice on how we can all come to accept ourselves as God does, despite what anyone else thinks or tells us.
P.S. (Zeroturbulence--according to the "checklist" in your threads, I definitely DO NOT qualify as an attractive woman, which is why I opted not to post in your last thread--thanks so much for clearing up any doubt!
)
