Truth #1. No one is perfect, so you can stop comparing yourself to others.
Seriously. Saying “She’s prettier than me, she’s smarter than me, they have cuter clothes than I do, etc.” is degrading to yourself! Saying things like “I look cuter than she does today, I made a better grade than so-and-so, etc.” just to make yourself feel better about yourself is equally wrong. Embrace who you are!
Truth #2. Lying and pretending to be someone you aren’t just so be people will like you doesn’t really accomplish a whole lot.
Sure, someone might befriend you, but if they don’t like the “real you,” then they aren’t really your friend. Do what you love to do (horseback riding, book clubs, youth group, art class, dance class, rockclimbing, WHATEVER!), that’s the best way to make friends! Don’t pretend to be into something you don’t like that much just because your best friend is. Sure, do stuff together, but don’t be afraid to do stuff on your own.
Truth #3. Playing “stupid” doesn’t make you cute.
This should be self-explanatory but seriously…don’t. People don’t like to hang out with people who act coy just for attention.
Truth #4. Simply going to church and doing things that are “church-y” doesn’t make you a Christian.
This can be hard. Try not to get into the mundane “motions” of going to church, praying, and reading your Bible. If you feel like you are, then PRAY! Someone told me once to “pray when it’s hardest to.”
Truth #5. Acting like you have everything perfectly put together 24/7 is exhausting and can put unreal expectations on yourself.
‘Nuff said
Truth #6. Too much of a good thing can truly be a bad thing.
If you volunteer for EVERYTHING (youth group leadership, worship leader for youth band, skit director, student goverment position, yearbook editor and more!), you WILL become exhausted. Already feeling like that? Maybe it’s time to pray and ask God what you can take a step back from.
Truth #7. Failing at something once doesn’t make you a failure.
It makes you a “try-er!!!!” 😉 If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again! Believe in yourself!!!
Truth #8. Admitting your weaknesses doesn’t make you weak.
It’s okay to admit your struggles to someone you love and trust. Your struggles make you human and you can’t always handle them on your own. (You always need God!) Sometimes you need people, too. God puts incredible people in your life to help you. Use them! Love them! Thank them! Help them in return!
Truth #9. There is a difference between laughing at yourself and making fun of yourself.
Don’t make fun of yourself just so people will laugh AT you. Have confidence! You are fearfully and wonderfully made! God LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY! Love and embrace who you are! Even your imperfections!
Truth #10. God DOES give you things you can’t handle.
Not because He wants to see us fall or make mistakes, but because He wants us to cling to Him with everything we have in our times of trouble. He reminds us that He’s still here and even in the middle of our biggest storms, He isn’t going anywhere.
Truth #11. This was a hard post to write. :S
Everything I wrote is true, but that doesn’t mean I don’t struggle with those things. I compare myself to other people. sometimes I pretend to be someone I’m not just so people will like me, and sometimes I go to church and go through the motions to make myself look good. I’m not proud of that, or any of those things I struggle with, but realizing the truth and being willing to change how I act and my attitude makes things better.
If this post gets published on the PI website then my prayer is that you realize something quite simple and extremely helpful:
No one is perfect but we all serve a perfect Savior who will always love us unconditionally.
Written by PI Fan, Melissa
Thank you for the advice and with school starting soon it will be really helpful. Thanks again.
my school already started
you are so right like jazmine said with school starting this will really be helpful THANK YOU:D
Thanks for posting!!
love this advice
Everything is true. The hardest thing is not getting caught up in the lies we tell ourselves.
Very good. Thank you.
12. Print out this list and tape it to my wall.
13. Sit quietly in my room and read the Bible for thirty minutes every day.
Thanks :3
Love this!!! It is so hard sometimes especially when you want attention and it seems like all your friends are getting it. Thanks for the reminder to stay true to ourselves and God!!!!
Very true, at least you can admit your weaknesses right? hahaa 🙂
This is all such amazing advice! Thank you so much for posting it!
Love how truthful you are in your writing. God bless you!
I need to print this out and post it in my house.
I wish more people could see this. I’m sure they’d have a happy life.
This was amazing Melissa! Best post so far! So encouraging! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
This is awesome, something I really needed to hear right before I go back to school (especially going into high school!). Thanks, Melissa!! 😀
One of my favorite quotes is: “God made you unique, so why would you want to be a copy?” I love that! It’s important to be confident in who you are and how God made you, but humble at the same time! 🙂
love this!
I just wanted to say thank you to all the sweet words left in the comments 🙂 I’m amazed at how God used my writing to be such a blessing in other’s lives! <3
thank you! this is so encouraging 🙂
AMEN!! Thank you.
Love this post! 🙂 <3
I really, really, REALLY LOVE this article! I sometimes find myself guilty of doin those thangs as well, but this article makes me realize that im not the only one. It also helps me thank about stuff more before I do, or say it. Thank ya so much! 🙂
God Bless You! 🙂