Every Thursday I feature a “throwback” post from my blog archive. The goal is to look back and discover new lessons or opportunities to grow. This week, we’ll look at “The Downfall of Self-Containment.” You can view the original post here. For today, here’s a quick recap and a few more thoughts about our lives and our purpose.

This was one of the first blog posts I ever wrote. Looking back, it seems a bit angsty; like I was trying to tell myself something important about my own identity and purpose. As the post says, there were a lot of words that I had attached to myself in that season that I was proud of. What it doesn’t say, is that there were even more words that I was ashamed of. If I know myself well enough, I know that this post wasn’t actually about the words on that screen. It was about the words I left unsaid. It was about the things that I was ashamed of. It was about my feelings of inadequacy as a husband and a father. It was about the mistakes I had made as a pastor and a leader. It was way more about breaking free of the negative thoughts than it was about celebrating the highlights. 

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Either way, the message that I was sending to myself and, hope you grab as well, is that we aren’t defined by the descriptions that are placed on us. There are plenty of true things that define me both in terms of strengths and areas to grow. I am a husband, a father, a pastor, and a leader. Those things are awesome and should be celebrated. I also tend to overthink, have mild to moderate road rage, and might even love my sneaker collection a little too much. These things I can work to improve. 

At the end of the day, those things, while a part of it, do not make me who I am. What makes me who I am is my identity in Christ and the calling he has placed on my life. That calling is to live and love like him and to make his name known. It’s that simple. So, let me ask, what words have you allowed to define you? Which ones are cause for celebration? Which ones present you with opportunities for growth? And which ones are just flat-out untrue and need to be thrown away? Your identity is not those things. Your identity is found in the one who made you. Rest in that truth today. 

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Have you heard the news? I am releasing a book called “Magic in the Mug.” This book is all about our personal stories and how they can help us discover a life of purpose. I’d love your help getting this book out into the world! Visit brandonhair.me/magic to find out more about the book and how you can be part of the team!