“Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.” Romans 15:7
Who you are can be harmonious with who I am without being the same.
How familiar are you with the saying “opposites attract”? Do you believe it? Do you actually believe that the people we have the most compatibility with are the exact opposite of you? I don’t know if I’d go to that extreme of being an “exact” opposite of you, but there’s something to be said for the differences we share with others and how enriching that can be for our lives. Think about your siblings, your friends, your family members, your partners. The ones you choose to spend the most time with… are they exactly like you? Do you like all the same things? Do you enjoy things the same exact way? Do you find yourself locked in agreement about every single thing? Probably not. Why? Because people are DIFFERENT. No matter how similar they might be, our differences are what keep life interesting.
It’s “easy” to embrace the differences from people who have more in common than different from us. A lot of times we just sweep those little instances under the rug and pretend the don’t happen (we’ll address avoidance at another time lol). But what about when those differences are a bit more glaring? Do we find value in differences of opinion? Do we make room for different approaches to problems? Do we embrace the opportunity to learn or do we shun what we don’t initially understand? Let’s face it, everybody isn’t going to think the same, act the same, process the same, or engage the same way that we do. And guess what? We can’t just send people with different life experiences and personality types from us to remote islands and not deal with them. What did we say earlier? People are different! And while you’re thinking about your approach to others differences I’ll throw this curveball into it… how do you want people to address the differences they have with you?
Yup, I did it. I turned the tables on you and made you realize that sometimes YOU are the different one, and maybe anxiety or stress kicked in at the thought of needing acceptance or understanding from others who can’t seem to wrap their mind around why you have to be different from what they like or what they’re used to or what they are willing to deal with. Now you have to face the insecurities you have around people thinking you’re weird, or mean, or avoidable because you’re different. In asking you to accept others differences I have drawn focus to your differences that you haven’t come to grips with because it bothers you (a lot) when people don’t accept yours. So how do we embrace difference, others and our own? Let’s affirm!
Affirmation 1: God celebrates uniqueness. How do I know? Because He made YOU, in His image. And God likes His image. The fact that there are so many different types of people out there and God made us all means it was INTENTIONAL for your type and their type to be here together. That’s right. Their type AND yours. Celebrate your uniqueness! And while you’re celebrating what makes you special, embrace what makes others special as well.
Affirmation 2: There is room here for us all. The world is a big place. It doesn’t always feel that way but there are sooooo many people living and thriving and we’re not exactly on top of each other (even though it feels that way a lot of the time). If you’re able to find your own little corner to exist in and the can find their own little corners to exist in, then we don’t have to drive any types out to have a peaceful existence here. And don’t let them drive you out either! It’s ok for us ALL to exist here, I promise.
Affirmation 3: Differences enhance our experiences. Have you ever listened to someone explain how they view the world and why and came away feeling enlightened? Like your world view has expanded because you had the chance to see things through a lens you never experienced before? That is the beauty of difference and how we all learn to be beyond ourselves. Think about how much more you can offer to the world if you can formulate opinions based beyond your purview. Think about the compassion and care you can offer if you’re not stuck in your own mind. Think about the support you can receive from others not stuck in theirs. Embrace the opportunity to expand and enhance.
I know I pointed out some heavy thoughts today, and hopefully you can open your mind and your heart to someone who doesn’t think like you today and find some common ground. Different doesn’t always mean dangerous. Sometimes it just means different. And my prayer for you is that accepting those differences instead of spending so much time trying to avoid them will bring a little peace to your mind. I love you, friend! And as always, I’m rooting for you! Keep conquering daily!
EMBRACING EMOTION: THE BLOG 