I'm not sure of how much I'll write, but I'll pre-apologize for being long-winded. Sorry!
At age 29 I began writing a personal book (for myself) on how to be happy. I spent two years of my life writing and re-writing. It was the greatest time of my life! I had never been more whole and complete, as I would imagine the case for most who spend two years in such deep efforts to understand and obtain happiness. I created programs and exercises . . . there is, to this day, still some very good material in that 25-year-old set of writings.
To keep this short, I'll say that I've always struggled in this life . . . always suffering from some kind of battle. I always thought that perhaps there was something wrong with me, including the possibility of a "chemical imbalance." I did everything to figure out a way to find peace and happiness in this world . . . but it was just so elusive. Even the Paleo diet amounted to nothing. I cleaned up my diet, giving my body and brain every right chance to correct itself, adjust, and begin leading this body of mine in a renewed sense of life. It didn't work.
Again, for the sake of a short read, I'll cut to the chase and just say the word . . . Confidence. I had none and I wasn't going to "go anywhere" in this world until that changed.
Years ago, the "self-help" industry was some 11 billion per year. Uh . . . say what? If this industry were so spot-on, why is that number so bloody high? If those books, tapes, CDs, and videos were so right . . . why are people so wrong and only getting worse? Why is it that this 11 billion dollar industry is not shrinking? Because it is a broken, dead, system. It is a hoax.
The Bible shows us consistently who and what we are supposed to be. First of all, we are to recognize the Raw, Almighty Power of God. We'll know that our perspective of God's position is right and in order when we change our ways based upon the reality of God's Power being implanted into our thought processes. We are to Fear God and no one or nothing else. Nothing. No one. That's it right there . . . Fear . . . unholy, negative, ugly, repulsive, wretched, Satanic Fear . . . it's gotta go. Why? Because Fear is an unholy blanket that shields us from receiving properly, and Fear doesn't allow us to live, and even give properly. All of life becomes eschewed in this Evil way of thinking and living.
Right from the start, we find Adam and Eve living in Fear, Shame, and Guilt. We can't do that. We just cannot live this way. Fear, Shame, and Guilt are of the Devil . . . and we Christians do not play that game. How do we combat this problem? Of course, we got to live with Christ in prayer; Trusting in Him to bring Truth and healings. But it's time that we get off of the couch and stop waiting on the Lord and begin to put some effort into this relationship that we have with Him. It's time to get to work!
Confidence. And this is what my post is about, which is that we've got to have a balanced view of ourselves, the world, and everything within it. We must be balanced! We must not hate ourselves nor should we be inappropriately in love with ourselves. A balanced sense of confidence doesn't allow us to focus on ourselves but on the needs and concerns of others. A confident person will think beyond his or her own issues and consider others as more important. This is freedom!
We've got to learn to believe in ourselves as good people. We've got to understand that the things wrong that we have done . . . that was the Sin Nature, just as Paul described in Romans 7:17 & 20. We must forgive ourselves . . . and all others . . . and move on in this life. Balanced . . . we must be balanced.
Now here is the thing . . . this life is only possible unless we turn to Jesus for His Holy and Spiritual Circumcision. We must all know what this Circumcision is. The KJV and NLT translations are the best, especially when put together as compared. Here is the NLT:
Colossians 2:11-13 NLT - "When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision--the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins."
We cannot be "made alive" until we receive the Circumcision of Christ. This is the Core of the Gospel, and it is by understanding the actual, True Gospel that a person finds True Peace. But, until we shed Fear, Shame, and Guilt . . . it will be nearly impossible to hear the Truth and Gospel of Christ. It will be nearly impossible to find peace and happiness in this world.
Yep. Fairly long-winded!