Photo from Freepik
We live in a society with Genetically Modified Organisms all around us and how they change the labeling.
This refers to the changing of a living organism whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. This includes plants, animals, and microorganisms. I have seen a trend in the health revolution revolves around eating cleaner ingredients. We have witnessed how society is forcing us to change the labeling. When we are looking at labels more closely now more than ever when we shop at the grocery store online. We are realizing that you are what you eat. What we put in our mouths directly correlates that comes out. One of my favorite questions once shared to me is “Would you rather eat something God made or man-made?” I have been really seething the theme of labels in my life, those around me, and it has become a topic in my speaking as a speaker.
“Proverbs 18:21 NIV says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat it’s fruit.”
I want to explore and go into detail the power of the tongue when it comes to labels in our life. I use “I am” statements frequently. “I am a child of God, and I get to be a husband, father, friend, author and speaker.” I am therefore I get to do those things and more. I do not have to, but I get it. It is an honor and privilege that I get to those things. My identity is in Christ. It is a choice that I have been given by his grace that I want to fully accept. I recently lost my car keys on a Monday. I looked of them Through Thursday. I finally got tired of making phone calls in the community and looking over as much of the house as I could think of and stand without going crazy.
I have lost my keys before. I have noticed something different in my recent behavior and last behavior when seeking lost keys. It’s the change in labeling.
I used to say think or say things like “I am such an idiot.” “What is wrong with you.” I am sure that you have used negative statements like this in frustration after losing something. These thoughts create labels that become false narratives as who I am. They affect how I show up to those around me. It affects especially how I show up to those around me because it affects my mood. Just like constantly eating food filled with GMO’s can cause issues with our gut health (second brain). Studies are showing more evidence the role gut health plays in our “shelf life,” if you will.
When I lost my keys for an extended period, I captured my thoughts. When I started talking self-talk, I noticed a drastic change in my mood and health. I no longer allowed the current circumstance to become my future condition that would affect the rest of my day, week or more. I took this as an opportunity to practice patience, stay present, and learn from the situation. I did not allow it to affect my self-worth or my identity in Christ. This has become a powerful lesson that does not just affect me. It is important to change the labeling.
The same week that I lost my keys I had two networking events, and two speaking engagements that week.
Losing my keys was less than ideal. I could have panicked. If I had let losing my keys create a false narrative, then I would plant a seed of doubt. I would have panicked, got frustrated and called it quits. If I called it quits, I would not have shown up to the networking events or the speaking events. I would have canceled. I would have said “I have to reschedule.” “I can’t make.” My actions and my speech would have gone against what the “word” tells me to do. I would nave not served others the ways in which I am called to do. People resonated with my speaking at both events that week. I got compliments. The compliments give me feedback to give impact more people who move forward.
When we shop for beef, we see labels that tell us what % is real beef. I want to be 100% me.
I imagine that you want to show others 100% as well. This world will throw labels at us constantly. Let us not add even more labels that have already been thrown at us. If we struggle with labels we will struggle with our “titles” or “positions” in our career. We can easily get stuck thinking that we are not good enough for a certain “title” or we put too much power in a “Title.” We put our self-worth in the “title.” We can have the extreme of the “imposter syndrome,” or we end up being full of pride, ego, arrogance. I have a problem stepping into our title then we will have an identity crisis, and we will not live in alignment.
I want to encourage you to be authentically you. I want you to pivot in purpose. Do not live in panic and fall for false labels and narratives. I want you to own your title so you can step into your purpose and truly serve and help others around you. You are not something made of GMOs. You are a child of God and Psalm 139:14 NIV says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful. I know that full well.”
I hope that you know that full well. When you lose things, or when things do not go the way, you want them to I encourage you to remember that you are responsible for how you respond, and change the labeling. Do not respond with labels. Do not allow what happens and your circumstances to affect your condition. Be confident about your position, but make sure to put the mission before the position. The position is great and has benefits, but the mission is the purpose behind it. God bless you.
Grab a copy of Ben Hinton’s Let Faith Grow: Running Through Adversity today! Hear more inspiring messages from the author on May 9-10 at the Look Who’s Talking Now event. Details below!
