A question has been stirring in my mind lately, and I'd like to share this with you, too.
Question: When people see you, what do you want them to see? Or when people think of you, what trait do you want them to attribute to you?
I don't mean to ask what you think is your best or most prominent feature. That's probably pretty obvious. What I mean is what you WANT people to see in you.
Fill in the blank: When others see a picture of me in their mind's eye, I want them to see _____________.
I'll go first. I want people to see graciousness. Not graceFULness, because that's probably impossible. I'm accident-prone, so I don't think that'll ever happen. But I want to be gracious. Why? Because I spent a lot of my early life being ungracious, that's why. I was a champion rule-follower and I was pretty harsh toward anyone who wasn't. So gracious is what I want to be.
What about you? If you're completely honest with yourself, how do you want others to see you? Beautiful? Kind? Fun? Successful? Intelligent? Physically fit? Carefree?
Don't answer by saying what you think you should feel. Tell me how you do feel.
There are lots of great attributes out there. How would you--honestly--fill in the blank?
Ooh, I know this sounds like the easy-way-out answer, but I have to concur with you, for all the same reasons.
ReplyDeleteWhen people look at me, I want them to see kindness, gentleness, and acceptance. I want them to see Jesus. Carla
ReplyDeleteMost definitely caring and loving.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Carla! Kindness! I love that word...it seems to be a lost artform these days...it also implies a quietness...stillness that comes with loving the Lord!
ReplyDeleteI have another side that would like to be seen as fun;)! Do I have two personalities?
What a great question! Thanks for sharing this today!
Enjoy!
Cathy
Well, beauty is certainly not one of my attributes, but I would love to be seen as kind and caring. A person very loving. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeletei guess i want people to see me as kind and joy-filled... and i hope they can see my heart...
ReplyDeletei think i see your graciousness everyday ever here...
I want others to see me as someone who made a difference in their lives just by knowing me.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great thought. I know that there are so many things that I *want* people to see in me but never thought about if they actually do see or not. I would have to say authenticity or an honest heart as well as an empathetic spirit. If there's one gift I believe the Lord has given me, it would have to be the empathy I feel for hurting & rejected people. I guess all in all, I just want to exhibit Christ's love to others as much as possible. :-)
ReplyDeleteGood question. I would want people to see and know the real me. Someone who is sympathetic but hurts too! Someone who is forgiving but needs forgiveness too! Someone who is joyrful but has sorrows too!. I've known to many people only choose to know or accept the side of you they like best and not the whole picture. And more importantly I want to know and see the whole picture of someone else too!
ReplyDeleteOops! Meant to tell you thanks for your comments yesterday. I love your blog and am following you now also!
ReplyDeleteGreat post ....you made me think. :) xoxox Susie
ReplyDeleteRichella,
ReplyDeleteHow weird...I just did a posting called "what matters" and this is a piece from it. My answer to your great, thought provoking question:
when i am gone, when my life is over. do i want people to say, oh her house was so beautiful, she had such amazing clothes or do i want my testimony to be of the love i shared? the love of my family. i would hope that people would be able to stand and say: she was a loving wife, mom, granny and friend. that i showed love to them and they back to me. that i loved and was loved in return. that i loved God. yes, that i truly loved God.
I want people to see someone who is kind and loving and genuinely cares about other people.
ReplyDeleteWhen others picture me, I want them to see authenticity and a confident peace that surpasses all understanding. Do they? Probably not. I worry too much about everything, including whether any confidence I may have in myself may appear to others as something else entirely.
ReplyDeleteWow, I think I just confused myself!
Very good question and there are many things I can think of to fill in the blank, but what I truly want people to see is my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I want my thoughts, words and deeds to reflect my faith.
ReplyDeleteNancy
I want people to look at me and see happiness, peace, and love. Someone who is fun and carefree. You have an award on my blog! Http://hersilentmusings.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! There are so many things that I want people to see in me! I guess the most important ones are graciousness, kind/loving and the "I would do anything for anyone attitude!" Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteSomeone who loves unconditionally,offers grace and mercy,kindness and compassion... Jesus in me!
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving us a chance to think on this and what our words and actions should be saying to the world
Wow this one is a real thinker. I think that as a two-time young breast cancer survivor I would want people to see me as a fighter - someone who loves life and her children and family so much that she would do anything it takes, no matter how difficult, to fight to stay alive. I must be doing a pretty good job because so many wonderful and caring people have supported me and told me how I have inspired them. Little do they know that they are the ones who inspire me each and every day! :)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, approachable. Hopefully, that would mean I am kind, helpful, and reflecting Christ in my life to them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful, honest post...For me it would be righteous...Not proud, arrogant righteous but walking right with God righteousness. No phoniness, that my yes would be yes and my no would be no. I would want them to see a person of integrity. My Danielness would show...I have a long way to go but I perservere.
ReplyDeleteWhen people look at me, I want them to see that I live everyday to the fullest.... trying to enjoy everything that God has given us... LIVE LOVE and mostly LAUGH!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great question! This made me do a little soul searching. I want others to see my sincerity, love and loyalty. I hope that others will see my Christ like love and that they feel how much I truly care. People not things are really what matter. I think you are a very beautiful person Richella and it reflects in your spirit and outer beauty too. I definitely see your graciousness. Hugs and love!!
ReplyDeleteVictoria
What a great question! This made me do a little soul searching. I want others to see my sincerity, love and loyalty. I hope that others will see my Christ like love and that they feel how much I truly care. People not things are really what matter. I think you are a very beautiful person Richella and it reflects in your spirit and outer beauty too. I definitely see your graciousness. Hugs and love!!
ReplyDeleteVictoria
I hope I am seen as encouraging... but I fear that I am too self-centered most of the time {in person} to encourage anyone! I also hope that they see the joy of the Lord in me. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteAs usual, Richella, you've given me something to 'muse' on. I guess the real answer is that I want people to see integrity - real honesty. When I sin and make mistakes, I hope people can trust me to own up to it. However, I'm afraid that sometimes I use that as an excuse not to do all I can to be whom the Lord says I can be. In a day when lying and pretense abound - both in and out of the church, I want to be known for integrity.
ReplyDeleteI want them to see me - who I really am - not the person they think I am.
ReplyDeleteI would like for people to see me as kind...so often I'm not. I tend to be quick to judge, and after hearing more about whatever I'm judging, I realize how harsh I was.
ReplyDeleteI think people do see me as tender hearted, but only because I cry a lot! LOL!
This is a VERY interesting post, and so are your followers' comments. For me, because I love to teach things, I would say I want people to see a motivator and encourager. Nothing gives me greater joy than to see understanding dawn on someone where before there was doubt and confusion, whether it's horse riding, learning english, or learning something about the Bible or about Jesus, sharing the thrill of something learned for the first time is wonderful. Motivating people when the going gets tough or if they've lost their nerve with horse riding is also very satisfying, I don't need gratitude or thanks, the look on their faces is all the thanks I need. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteGood question Richella. I hope others see me as kind, caring, strong and loyal. Well that's more than one word isn't it. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed weekend.
~Melissa :)
Well, this is a hard one. I've read and re-read what you wrote, Richella, and I keep coming back to "love." Not loving, because that would not fit the sentence. When others see a picture of me in their mind's eye, I want them to see love - all that the word implies. I would hope that the "others" have experienced my love towards them, and that that feeling would be what they remembered. Sounds odd, I know...
ReplyDeleteI want people to see a mother, who loves her children and family more than anything else in this world - besides God, of course. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen people see me (or think of me) I want them to see nice, kind, and polite. I know that is three things but to me they are kinda wrapped up into one.
ReplyDeleteNow, girl. You knew that you wouldn't get a one word answer from a bunch of wordy women! ;)
ReplyDeleteAs a mom: consistent
As a friend: gracious
As a stranger: authentic
As a wife: fun
As a writer: transparent
As a daughter: a blessing
As a person: relaxed and enjoying life
As a child of God: redeemed
Honestly?? (Only because you asked) I wish that they'd see "pretty." I know they see funny. I know they see nice. I know they see smart. I know they see fat.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm *supposed* to say patientkindlovinggoodfaithfulgentleself-controlled...but that's how I've been feeling.
Sorry I'm late in commenting. Just got back into town this evening. I always admire people who can answer questions like that the *right* way and be honest about it.