Couple of weeks ago, I posted a video on my social media highlighting the 5 Most Read Blogs on my website with the song: "That's Not My Name".
Today, as I was reflecting on some of the lyrics of that song, I started thinking about all the times people have forgotten our names and have called us the wrong ones, or the instances where we forgot our own name and allowed others to rename us. What do you mean Emma? I am so glad you asked :-)
When I was growing up, I was called a "crybaby", labeled "average". So, when I became an adult, I assumed that WHAT they have been calling me was WHO I was, and I approached life with those counterfeit lenses in my eyes. It wasn't until life hit me really hard, when I suddenly became a single mom, that I decided to go on a journey of self-discovery and realized those name-calling people were full of it. They didn't know WHO I was or WHAT I was capable of.
My question to you today is: "Could it be that you too have been answering to the wrong names? Could it be that one of the reasons for your uneasiness with life is because you have accepted labels that are not an accurate reflection of who you are?
Don't call me "average" when the real issue is that I am not operating in my natural talents. Don't box me in "the perpetual employee" box when I was born to launch businesses. Don't tell me: "It's always been like that for us" when I am a trendsetter.
The name-calling or false labeling can start in early childhood when parents, teachers, adults or friends, because they misunderstood you or thought you were a certain way, started calling you or treated you based on their perception of you.
It can continue in adulthood, when you pursue a profession based on who you think you are, but not who you truly are; or when you allow a supervisor to put you in a box that fits the company's agenda but not yours. For some of us, we are the ones who have allowed life's circumstances to name us and have kept those names when we know darn well that is not who we are deep down.
Lastly, in case you need some biblical references on how damaging responding to the wrong names can be, let's take a look at Gideon in Judges 6. The angel greeted him by calling him a "mighty warrior", his response was "my clan is the weakest, and I am the least in my family." Clearly, Gideon has been called the wrong names throughout his life and has come to accept them. In Genesis 32, Jacob's name had to be changed to Israel because Jacob means "supplanter", but that wasn't who he was.
All this to say, next time someone or life calls you, don't be in such a hurry to answer. Make sure you are being called with the accurate titles and/or adjectives.
Until next time,
Emma