Whether you participate in Black Friday or not, you’re probably forming a Christmas list and making plans to go shopping in the next month or so.
What amazes me every year, especially when browsing the toy aisle, is the sheer amount of products available. Factories have clearly ramped up production, setting their molds to crank out thousands of dolls, action figures, clothing items, and technology gadgets. And here’s the mind-boggling part — Each of those items has a thousand duplicates just like it.
That doll house you bought your daughter? There are countless houses exactly like it on shelves nationwide. That Bluetooth headset you bought your teenager? Yep, they were mass produced too.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars will be spent on gifts that have been duplicated, boxed, and shipped to store shelves miles away. The logistics alone blow my mind.
But you wanna know something truly mind-boggling? While you’re busy buying gifts for your friends and family this season, YOU don’t have a duplicate anywhere in the world.
Max Lucado says it this way:
You weren’t an accident. You weren’t mass produced. You aren’t an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the earth by the Master Craftsman.
Did you catch that, my friends? Out of the billions of people on this planet, there is no one else exactly like you. NO ONE.
So what does this mean for your health and wellness? A few things come to mind…
- You are beautiful just the way you are. You might look at the person next to you and wish you had their looks/body/talents/home life/bank account/perfect angelic kids…but you’re not them. You’re you. Embrace who you are and appreciate your beautiful design.
- You are the only one who can live out your unique calling. No one else has the specific background, personality, skill set, and experiences to view the world the way you do. What can you do with what you’re given? And how can your health help you take your mission farther?
- Your health journey won’t look like anyone else’s. What helped your friend Susie lose 30 pounds may not work for you at all. God has designed you with a one-of-a-kind package of DNA. You might hate that package sometimes, but it’s all yours to love or neglect.
Let’s be honest for a minute… How many times are we tempted to picture ourselves in someone else’s shoes, to imagine their idyllic life as ours? This is a struggle I face constantly. But you know what? When we try to run in someone else’s lane, the only result is a collision.
Don’t get stuck looking sideways. Stay focused on your own lane. Ask God to help you stay true to who YOU are. Yes, look to others for ideas and examples, but stick with your unique design and enjoy the process.
Above all, remember this: You are not a mistake. When you embrace who you are, you’ll be able to live with health, joy, and purpose.
See you at the finish line!
ONE SIMPLE STEP: Take a few minutes to write down traits that are unique to you. They might be physical, or they might be related to your home life, career, values, or personality. Now choose one trait and brainstorm a way it can help you in your health journey this week.
ONE STEP FURTHER: If you’ve written your list of traits, spend a few minutes thanking God for your unique design. You might choose to thank Him through quiet prayer time. Or next to each trait, you could write what you specifically appreciate about it, what it allows you to do, etc. When you’re tempted to get down on yourself, revisit your list. It will provide a visible reminder of God’s love and care.
