Don’t take things so personally

Over the years, I’ve been told things like "take things for face value", or "don’t read into things". I’ve really tried to do that. There have been many Bible studies that I’ve been a part of where we’ve focused on being God centered and not *me* centered. We focus on what God says about who we are and what God says about our future. When we take time to be God focused, we think less about what other people think and say. When we do this, we don’t focus on what people may or may not be thinking. It’s so easy to get caught up in that thinking. We look at text messages or social media posts. Then we start wondering what are they thinking. When did they write that? Was that about me? Was that intended for me to see that? Or when the text message doesn’t come right away we wonder are they upset with me? When the text message is one word answers we wonder are they mad? Did I say something wrong? We read into every line of every message or lack thereof. I heard a message one time where the speaker said when we do this we make it all about us, and it’s actually very prideful. We are being vain. We are being selfish. When we do this, we are making every conversation completely self-centered. We may think that we are truly trying to be a great friend or be there for the other person. We are actually making every conversation totally and completely about us. No matter if we try to reframe it and say, "but I’m trying to be there for them", "I’m trying to make sure I am not hurting their feelings" or "doing anything wrong to them". We’re actually just making it all about us. Because truly they could be going through something completely separate of us.

I have some incredible people in my life. They have been so trusting of me, and allowed me to know what they go through in their own lives. When I hear about what they face on a daily basis outside of normal life, such as parenting, work, trying to keep up with exercise, eating right, keeping up with housework, etc, etc, etc. The thought of them not responding to my text and me thinking it’s about me made me feel horrible. Of course they didn’t respond to my text about the video I sent them. Or about plans for next week. They don’t have time to respond to me immediately. And even if they did respond to me with one word answers. I am grateful for their one word answers. What I desperately try to do is not read into anything, and remember that if anyone has any feelings at all that I have done anything wrong they have to tell me. If someone has not brought any negative feelings or issues to me, I can’t do anything to fix that. Until they do, I cannot go seeking negative thoughts of my own and worry and create stress that is not there. That does not help anyone, especially me.

Social media is insecurities playground. If you struggle with insecurity, that is definitely the place for you to go to. If I am having a day where I am struggling, that is my day to stay off social media. I know that I am weak and that's my day to stay off. My thoughts will run ragged. My job literally is being put out there in front of thousands of people and being judged. So it is best for Michelle not to go online and read comments under videos. Especially on days where she’s overly tired. For the most part the comments are positive. But I will find that one semi-negative and read into. I will say things like "what did they mean by that". WHO CARES? They are a random person on social media! On days that I am overtired (or hormonal) it's best to stay off the screen of social media. If you are a person who is struggling with deeper issues like depression or body dysmorphia, battling overthinking is extremely difficult, and made harder with social media. It may be best just to get away from social media altogether.

So this year, I did not have a word from the Lord specifically like *transformation*, or *rooted.* That may have been easier. I had a phrase. "Don’t take things personally". So every single time that something comes up and I start to feel a twinge of hurt I tell myself "don’t take things personally". It's not personal, and if it is they will tell you. If I need to change something, The Lord will reveal it to me. He will have the person talk to me, or he will reveal it to me. Guys and Gals, we are 14 days in, and I have dealt with this EVERYDAY!! Multiple times a day! With my husband, with my kids, at the store, in my car, EVERYWHERE. I am realizing how much I made everything about ME! Geez I am selfish. Yes, the person who cut me off wasn't nice, but it wasn't personal. He wasn't looking at my SUV and saying "I am going to cut off Michelle because she deserves it". When I stop and tell myself my new phrase God reminds me of his word. It's either about forgiveness or who I am in him. It is never the same verse every time. Apparently when you stop making everything about yourself, you can hear God more. Imagine that. LOL.

So, with only 14 days into the new year and my new phrase I haven’t even started my comedy tour season yet. That will bring a whole new set of challenges. Y'all, I am praying for the Holy Spirit to lead me on this, because I am nervous. I know there will be trials on this one. But I also know trials bring growth and a working out of my faith. James 1:2. So I am excited and thankful.

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