Is it possible to morph – to change your personality? I’m not talking about transgender. I’m talking about changing your behavior and personality to please yourself and make you feel good about yourself. Can a person try on different characters and gain who they want to be? Believe me, I’ve tried it many times. Did it work? Maybe for a moment or two.
To be honest, sometimes in social events, I end up feeling like I am in a toxic workplace rather than enjoying conversation and fun. I’m sure you have been there too. Most likely we’re all playing a role depending on the situation. So when forced to be something I’m not I hide my discontent and remain on stage and play a role. The big smile comes out, I give the bear hug and plant the kiss on the cheek. The real “me” is not always in operation.
You and I can only guarantee that the real “us” will be in operation when we are with people we feel safe to be ourselves. But even alone, sometimes the real person is not there.
The sad thing is that some of the people who are in our lives tend to make us fall into the traits about ourselves we want to change. Over and over again we try to accommodate our best wishes, but can’t change. It’s the same principle why diets don’t work and the fat comes back. We can’t change our traits and urges, or stop them from creeping up on us.
For me, simply surviving is not enough. I want peace and joy. The answer to this dilemma is in the Bible. The Apostle Paul said: “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing. It is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. Oh wretched man that I am. Who will deliver me? CHRIST JESUS! (Romans 7: 24 & 25 paraphrased)
We will never be perfect no matter how hard we try. We will never be satisfied with ourselves. If we could, Jesus would never have gone to the cross. For sure, we need to strive to be like Christ, but depend on His saving grace when we fail.
Truth, the Ideal Persuader 