Can your mess really be turned into a message that inspires others? Absolutely!

The truth is, we’ve all made a mess of things at one time or another. Lord knows I have. And I don’t mean little mistakes with little consequences. No, that would be too easy. I’m talking about big mistakes with big consequences.

But I’ve also learned to embrace the mess because it can be turned into a message that impacts lives.

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If you don’t know my story, feel free check it out. But I’m going to warn you: it’s not pretty – but it’s REAL, it’s AUTHENTIC, and it’s mine.

So what’s your story?

Perhaps you’ve said some things to someone that you wish hadn’t…

Or maybe you got involved with the wrong crowd or fell into substance abuse…

Quite possibly it’s not even your fault because you are the victim of abuse, and it is causing problems in a current relationship.

Whatever mess you’ve once found yourself in, it’s important to know that you’re not alone.

 

Using Your Story to Inspire Others

Thanks to social media, I know it can seem like everyone else is living the “good life”. However, if you don’t remember anything else from this post, remember this: what you’re seeing on social media is the highlight reel, not the backstory.

And the result has led to people craving authenticity and REAL connection. And when you can connect with someone that is authentic and isn’t afraid to share their backstory, it can create a bond that inspires change.

So don’t run from your messy backstory – embrace it.

Why?

Because as we speak, there are people going through similar situations that you’ve been through, and they’re just waiting for someone to come along that can help. They want a REAL connection with someone that has been where they are and knows what they’re going through.

So why not you?

 

Step 1: Be always authentic, but selectively vulnerable.

There’s a very fine line between authenticity and vulnerability, and it’s important to know the difference.

Let’s break it down…

Being authentic is just being real and transparent, but not at the risk of divulging hypersensitive information that can be used against you or harm others in the process.

Being vulnerable, on the other hand, is divulging hypersensitive information that can be used to harm or hurt you or others – whether or not that’s the intention.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (NIV)

 

Step 2: Choose gratitude over grudges

We live in a society where it seems everyone is trying to keep up with the Jones’. Your best friend gets a new car, and now you feel like you need to have one. A colleague at work gets a raise, but you didn’t, and now in the hidden corners of your psyche there’s a hint of jealousy.

It’s important to understand that life doesn’t happen to you – it happens for you.

In other words, instead of looking at what you don’t have, look at what you do have. Sure, you may not be driving the car you want or live in the house that you want – but things could always be much worse.

I can remember what life was like when I was screwed out of the car I was driving (a financing deal gone wrong), and I had to take the bus everywhere for 6 months.

And I absolutely hated it at the time.

But you know what? I’m grateful that I got to experience it because I’m now even more grateful as a result.

It’s all perspective…

And sometimes it’s the 2-millimeter shifts we make in our perspectives that can make all the difference in the world.

 

Step 3: You must value helping others over your own ego

That’s harsh, I know.

But if you want to turn your mess into a message that inspires others, you can’t do it and have an ego.

Because in order to truly make a difference in the world, you may look ridiculous while doing it.

But so what?

Imagine you’re out on the lake with a group of people, when one of your friends falls into the lake. They don’t know how to swim, and with each passing second, their screams become less and less frequent.

What would you do?

Would you throw caution to the wind, jump in, and save them? Or would you let them drown and die because you’d be more concerned about your hair, nails, or the fact that you didn’t bring a swimsuit and may ruin your outfit?

And it’s not different with the people we interact with in our everyday lives.

Personal note: I’m just glad that when I was in a place of desperation, someone cared enough about me to not be concerned about what people might think – and I’m forever grateful.

 

Final Thoughts

You are more powerful than you know or give yourself credit for.

And that power was planted there by a God that loves you so much that He bankrupted heaven just for YOU!

In Revelation 12:11, it says, “they have defeated him (the enemy) by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.“

Their TESTIMONY was their STORY!

So don’t run from your messy story, embrace it! Allow God to turn your mess into a message that inspires and impacts the lives of others!