There's No Me Without Me (And Other Uncomfortable Truths)

You know sometimes, when someone is really annoying you, you just want to spend a few days as far away from them as possible, not talking to or thinking about them at all, until you get over how annoying they are? That's how I felt about myself last night.

I can be really irritating. It's part of my bubbly personality that I can grate on people after a while. But that wasn't what was bugging me last night. It was the fact that I know one thing to be true, but act as if it's the opposite. I know what I want to do and think but that's not how my thoughts and actions turn out. Most of all, I am a massive hypocrite.

Here is a list of things I believe, that shape how I feel and act towards other people:

• All people are made by God, in His image, and therefore have intrinsic value.
• All people are special in their own unique way, according to how God has made them.
• No person is any more important or any less important than anyone else.
• All people make mistakes. But God has forgiven them, so I should too.
• All people are known and loved by God, who is the only person capable of deciding if they are worth it.

But it seems to be one rule for me and another for everyone else. Why is it that I so easily see the best in others, but the worst in myself? If I truly believe those things to be true, why can't I apply them to myself?

My lack of self-belief was what was annoying me last night. But I hereby make a declaration that the following things are true:

• I am made by God, in His image, and therefore have intrinsic value.
• I am special in my own unique way, according to how God has made me.
• I am no more important, but also no less important than anyone else.
• I make mistakes. But God has forgiven me, so I should too.
• I am known and loved by God, who is the only person capable of deciding if I am worth it.

Yes I know it's important to be humble and have a realistic idea of your faults, in order to improve yourself and so on. But it is equally wrong to have an overly negative view of yourself. The enemy would have us believe we are worth less than other people, and somehow less important to God. But He made the Heavens and the Earth and everything in it. He created the sunset, the tulips, and you.

Here is a list of truths about you:

• YOU are made by God, in His image, and therefore have intrinsic value.
• YOU are special in your own unique way, according to how God has made you.
• YOU are no more important, but also no less important than anyone else.
• YOU make mistakes. But God has forgiven you, so you should too.
• YOU are known and loved by God, who is the only person capable of deciding if you are worth it.

Self-hatred is not humility. It is disapproving of this cool thing that God has made. He thinks you are pretty awesome. Who are you to disagree?