Original, not a copy!

It starts on the playground with comparisons: “I’m faster than you!” “I can swing higher than you.” “My sand castle is more beautiful than yours!” And even when we’ve grown up, it plays out in much the same way. Sometimes on a slightly larger scale, sometimes quietly in the inner monologue of our minds.

Through society, social media and advertising, you are taught to be a copy of an ideal image and to compare yourself. Everyone is supposed to aim at looking and acting like this ideal image (and we have to spend a lot of money to do so). The promise of advertising is that it will make me happy and give me approval. I won’t make me happy, but unfortunately I actually get recognition from other people when I strive to become more like this ideal image. Even if I don’t want to conform to this image, or I’m not aware of it: it is quite firmly anchored in our minds.

Comparing quickly leads to judging myself and other people. I evaluate behavior and appearance with my “standard”. This person is reliable, punctual, competent,…the other one is not (and my “standard” may look different from yours!). What a mess! I also judge myself. And I often don’t fare so well either. Do I want to be judged by other people’s standards? I’d rather not!

Should you conform to an ideal image? Of course not! Your value is given by God, not by your family, friends or colleagues! God has made each of us valuable regardless of talents, strengths and our performance! God does not make copies and doesn’t compare you! You are different from every other person in the world! And that’s good! God hasn’t made one mistake in all this diversity! God has made you and me wonderful. And for that we may and should be thankful!
In the Bible, Paul put it this way:

So may we never be arrogant, or look down on another, for each of us is an original. We must forsake all jealousy that diminishes the value of others.
Gal 5:26 TPT

Every person is called an original. That really touched me. Only copies can be compared! To try to be like a copy of a star, a celebrity or any other ideal image does not correspond to God’s design! God makes originals! You have the most energy and joy and your soul and relationships are at their best when you are this one-of-a-kind that God created.

Unlike copies, original artwork must be unique and different. That is what makes them valuable. A Cézanne is not a Van Gogh and he is not a Michelangelo!

If you don’t live up to the ideal image and feel inferior because of it, it’s time to cultivate your relationship with your creator. Your worth comes from him and he will encourage you not to compare yourself. He confirms to you again and again that you are important and just right! Only with God can you find love and peace, with him you can recharge. Refueled you stand confidently, enjoy yourself and other people! You perceive every person as unique. With this knowledge, loving others becomes more “doable”. Admittedly, this is more difficult with some people than with others… But the remedy always remains the same: to be filled with love from God and to believe what he says!

You are an original, not a copy! Dare to be an original and love other people because they are originals!