Learning To Be Myself

Learning to be myself has been one of the hardest things…

I am shy, and I always have been. For years I was made to feel as if this is one of the worst characteristics to have. I have always hated this about myself up until recently. I finally realized that God made me this way for a reason. Because I am shy, there is a lot of things that come as a challenge to me, so that means I have to work hard to accomplish these tasks. God made me this way, not so I would hate it, but because He knew I could handle what came with it and that it would only make me stronger.

“Be Strong, Be Brave, Be Fearless. You are never alone.” -Joshua 1:9

Over the past couple years I have done several things that are really out of my comfort zone. I started a youtube channel, began doing devotional videos on Facebook, and started this blog. It shocked so many people, because it was definitely something that no one could see me doing, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t do it. At first, (and still am sometimes) I was so scared of what others may think about me. I thought “everyone is going to think I am so weird”. I knew it was out of the ordinary, especially in my town but I gave it a shot anyways, and I am so thankful that I did.

Through my videos and this blog I have been able to show the world who I am, and truly find my passions. Yes I am shy, but I love sharing my passions with others and creating new content every week makes me so happy. Slowly, but surely I am learning to do the things that make me happy and to be who I am, regardless of what others think. I have been able to show my more outgoing and creative side through these platforms, and I am so grateful for that. I am positive that not everyone who watches my videos or reads my blog likes it, but that’s okay because I love it. Hearing how it impacts the lives of others absolutely makes my day and means the world to me.

A few years ago if you would have told me that I would have been doing the things I am today, I would have said you were crazy. I didn’t believe in myself, and I let my shyness hold me back from a lot of things. Today, I take that shyness as a challenge and allow it only to make me stronger. I know that God made me who I am for a reason and a purpose, and that goes for everyone! He has allowed me to see a glimpse of what that purpose is, and through that I have been able to find myself.

Everyday I am still working on just truly being me. I don’t want to regret not doing something just because someone else told me it was “weird” or that I just wasn’t the type of person that could succeed at it. I want to live my life and experience true joy in doing the things that I love, and inspiring others to do the same. I am growing to love the shy, awkward girl that I am and fully embracing that for what it is. It is okay to be different and out of the ordinary, God made us all different for a reason.

No matter the situation, always stay true to yourself. God made you wonderful, and beautiful and created you for great things. There is only one you in this world, so show the world who that person is! Live your life doing things that make you happy, find what you are passionate about, and use your light to guide others to do the same. God will be will you every step of the way. Take chances, even if it may seem “out of character” for you. Go after your dreams, you never know where they make take you. Learn to be yourself and learn to love yourself, because God loves you just as you are. 

-Taylor Johns