Do You!

Posted by Scott Williams
14 Comments
September 11, 2007
Big Is The New Small | Life Application | LifeChurch.tv

“Do You” is not a question, but rather a statement that I came up with to describe “being yourself.”  Many times we go through life and try to mimic the likes of other people.  You know what I’m talking about, you find some attributes that you admire in a boss, friend, public figure, family member or mentor and attempt to replicate those things and literally try to become that person.  I am not saying that you shouldn’t acknowledge and learn from others strengths; I’m simply saying you need to “Do You,” in otherwords find your own voice/identity in those attributes.  When I went into ministry with LifeChurch.tv, I was surrounded by a lot of gifted leaders with some serious “skilz.”  It would have been easy for me to gravitate towards their style and cultural elements, that I could have lost my own identity. I have intentionally not allowed that to happen, because at the end of the day that’s not who they hired me to be.  

As I lead the NW Oklahoma City Campus of LifeChurch.tv, I have wholeheartedly embraced all of the LifeChurch.tv cultural values, respect the original DNA and am totally sold out to the mission of the ministry.  I am cherishing every minute of my calling, because I am simply “Doing Me” and don’t necessarily care what people think.  Our Senior Pastor posted a Blog entitled “Give Up Your Reputation,” which outlines the fact that with a growing ministry or leadership role; people are going to misquote, criticize and despise you. If we embrace the fact that in life and as “leaders” we are going to experience criticism; why in the world are we trying to be somebody else?   Remember the bigger your role or responsibilty becomes, the smaller your focus should be. BigIsTheNewSmall

Share your thoughts: Are you “Doing You?”  Do you care what others think?  Have you lost some of your personal identity due to a job or role? 

  • http://flowerdust.net anne jackson

    I am very compartmentalized right now…some due to decisions, and honestly some due to obedience. This is actually really hard because between certain hours of the day, it is difficult to “be me”…and during other hours it’s not a problem. It’s not like I’m a different person…”me” is just hiding and is afraid to take the risk to emerge.

  • Anna

    I do me. Some people would say I do me too much! Ha! Oh well, I don’t care! Thanks for the reminder, Scott…

    I think when you “do you” you allow other people to be themselves. When we’re at rest with who we are in Christ, others, around us, can feel at rest as well.

    Great post, Scott!!

  • Scott Williams

    Wow, my two favorite ladies in the blog world whose names just happen to be similar. Anne & Anna

    Anne- You definitely seem to “Do You” on your blog… I like that “me is just hiding and afraid to take the risk to emerge.”

    Anna- I don’t know what our team would be like if you didn’t “Do You.” Thanks for the comment!

  • http://www.greenups.com/ greenup

    Well, I would suggest a variation?

    [Do You]r interpretation of Christ. Your identity IS something to lose. “Whoever finds his life will lose it…” is a call to give up our lives. I struggled for a long time about that; (still do sometimes) Why or how could I give up being ME? Does God just want clones?

    No, but what He is calling me to is BETTER than being merely me. The trick is to figure out what that is… Sometimes it’s the same, but for a different REASON. It’s important to watch the line on *why*, You Do, What.

  • http://dturn.wordpress.com david

    I think we all need to “Do You” more often.
    We mess up when we try to please other people and measure up to what we think others want us to be.
    God created us with our own individual “flava” to add to the pot.

  • Scott Williams

    Greenup- “The trick is to figure out what that is….” is such a true ststement. Once we figure it out, we have to go all out.

    David- You have got to bring your own “flava” or it won’t taste right. It’s a very freeing experience to “Do You!”

    Thanks for the comments!

  • http://www.floatingaxhead.com michael

    i recently told my wife that i don’t really care about being liked. i am who i am…laugh, cry, smile and pout.

    just like when i’m upset at her, i’m upset at the world because she is the biggest part of this world god put me in. so i’m not compromising the honest emotions i feel because someone wants me to act as if they deserve more by me sucking it up and putting something on.

    i think people fear the passion that can bring you down just like it can bring you up. they want the john macarthur truth with a joel osteen delivery and it just is not going to happen that way.

  • http://www.crossroadsmovement.com J.W.

    Years ago, I was afraid to take the risk and be me. I’ve since come out of that but realize that I have a tendency to stop being me and try to fit into someone else’s style. I did a similar post a while back and it was more for me than anyone else.

  • Mike A

    I needed this today!!!

  • http://www.greenups.com/ greenup

    Another challenge to contemplate:

    20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

  • Scott Williams

    Michael- Great additional thoughts! “MacArthur truth & Joel Osteen delivery.” :-)

    J.W.- That is a great point, it can definitely be risky to “Do You!”

    Mike- I am glad I could help!

    Greenup- hmmmmmm

  • http://thegrateful.org Mike Sager

    I think that pretty much there are two voices in the world today: those who tell you to live up to their expectations, and those who tell you to be yourself. You, sir, have just fallen into the latter category.

    Christ says, as greenup has come close to saying, “Deny yourself and follow me.” He elsewhere says that everybody who is fully trained will be like their teacher. Our teacher is Jesus, and we are to be like Him. If we could reach perfection in this life, it would mean that we become just like Him. We can, of course, only approach this goal in this life, but it must be our constant goal.

    There is no room in Christ for me, my ideas/ideologies, my ambitions/hopes/dreams, my hobbies, my sins, my anything. The life we live is not our own; it belongs to the One who bought us at a price.

    Do Christ. There are enough people in the church either “doing what it takes to live in the world” (i.e., being what the world wants) or being themselves (with all their sins and worthless pursuits displayed as part of “who I am”). Be honest about what you are, but never be okay with it. Throw away everything for Christ.

  • Scott Williams

    Mike- Great Comment! “Do Christ,” I like that and I could not agree with you more. Do You, Be You, be the “you” and do the “you” that God has called you to and don’t be pursuaded by others.

    Don’t forget what you read in God’s word, nor who you are in Christ:

    (James 1:22-24)

  • http://joniruhs.wordpress.com Joni Ruhs

    This is SO ME!! As long as we’re talking about me(sort of). It’s taken years to find me. And it’s the me I am not the me I want people to see. I wasted a lot of time worrying if I was doing the “right” things and being a “good” christian. About 2-3 years ago–REVELATION–it’s ok to be myself. That sounds so cliche but what I mean, is that I would be horrified if I said or did something completely stupid. I couldn’t live with the fact that I had faulty thinking or needed to mature here and there. And I started stepping out a little and now I’m in an awesome church(Orchard Valley Comm Church, Aurora, IL)that WANTS me to be myself and is fully committed to helping me grow as well. Great thoughts on “Me”.

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