Be someone you’d want in your life.

We’ve probably all heard the statement, “Be the person you needed when you were younger,” or something along those lines. And while that is great advice, I want to also challenge you to be the person you need and want right now.

You can’t be everything, all the time, all at once. We each have our strengths and weakness, our good days and hard days. So when you’re striving to be the person you need, the friend you’d want, the partner you desire, remember, you can’t be everything, and that’s ok. But you can be the best version of YOU.

There’s no sense in trying to be someone you’re not. If you desire a partner that is really funny, but you’re not funny at all, then you’ll have a hard time exuding the humorous quality in your life. But you can be the kind and caring person. Or you can be the considerate and generous person. Or you can be the outgoing, event-planning, party person. Or you can be the smart, tactful, logical person.

Whichever person YOU are, be that person to the fullest in all your relationships – new and old, developing or coming to an end. Be the best version of you.

Be a person you would want to have in your life.

This goes for friendships: be the type of friend you want – caring, understanding, present.

This goes for dating and romantic relationships: possess and exude qualities that you want in a partner – loyal, trustworthy, Christ-like.

This goes for family relationships: choose grace, forgiveness, and love over and above everything else.

When we are the best version of ourselves, and bring to our relationships all the amazing qualities and characteristics we carry, it opens the doors for positive experiences with others. When people see you valuing kindness and openness – or community if you’re the “social one,” or humor if you’re the “funny one,” or good ideas if you’re the “thinker” – you create a space where people feel at home in your presence. It lets them know they, too, can be all the good things they are without being made fun of or taken advantage of. Instead they feel safe to be themselves around you, knowing you value authenticity and that they, too, will be valued for their amazing qualities.

So be the type of person you’d want in your life. Bless other people with your sincere friendship and committed relationship. Blow people’s minds with your honesty, joy, and wisdom. Love people like Jesus calls us to love. And watch people become the best version of themselves when they are around you. And always be the best version of you.

Photo by Laurenz Kleinheider on @unsplash