Different strokes,for Different folks!
I remember walking through the Health Science building when I was in school to be a Health Unit Coordinator and saying to myself..”Girl, I’m so proud of you!” Why was I proud of myself? Well, because I had did everything that ASHLEY wanted to do and this was my last short term goal to achieve! While it’s so common for everyone to live up to the expectations of others, I always did what ASHLEY felt would make ASHLEY happy! How coincidental that the same day we ended up studying the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs scale! Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a motivational theory in psychology comprising a five-tier model of human needs. The scale is taught from bottom to top.
The first two levels show our basic needs, the next two our psychological needs and the top and last level are self-fulfillment needs. Studying this scale helped me to realize and made me feel even more comfortable in my “uniqueness” or being different. Trust me I always knew that I was different. While everyone wanted to be a doctor or lawyer, I loved working with kids, reading, crafting and creating, writing, art, and hair! That’s what “I” loved to do! I realized so many people go through life unhappy, trying to fulfill the expectations of others or make everyone else happy and proud of them and neglect their own happiness. So many people are AFRAID-afraid to BE! afraid to be different, afraid to stand out, afraid to love themselves, afraid to embrace everything they are! Too many people would rather be like everybody else so that they can be accepted or feel needed! When studying or looking at the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs scale you’ll see the five-stage model can be divided into deficiency needs and growth needs. The top level is known as growth or being needs (B-needs). Our growth needs don’t form from our lack of something, but from our personal desire to grow as an individual. When we become satisfied enough with our growth needs, we become more capable of reaching the highest level called “self-actualization“. When you reach the point of being a self-actualized individual you understand that IT’S OKAY TO BE DIFFERENT! I am one who has reached self-actualization and I love it! I’ve learned to accept who I am, where I am and understand that I always have room to grow! I LOVE BEING DIFFERENT!– I am independent, I don’t conform to others,I value my privacy but I love to mingle and interact! I love laughing, joking,I am compassionate, I’m open and transparent! I am not confined to a boxed life! I desire to always be myself, love, and embrace myself just for who GOD created me to be! Why should I fit in when I was born to stand out! I understand that I am not for everybody and I AM OKAY WITH THAT! To those who are struggling with being ” The different one” or “Black Sheep”- Let them underestimate you, let them look down on you, let them shut you out! It can get frustrating YES! But understand that while they may isolate you GOD is insulating you with so many great things! He’s grooming, pruning and plowing the ground so that your life can produce many fruits! The very things that make you DIFFERENT are going to be a great asset to the KINGDOM OF GOD and his people! You being different will position you to make a DIFFERENCE.
ALWAYS remember Originals are worth more than copies, BeYOUtiful,Be Different!
-They don’t have to like it or love it, “There are DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS”
xoxo
-Lady Ashley
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