Happy Self-Love Sunday!
I know it’s been a minute, but I have been preparing for my college graduation. That’s right, I graduate from college on Tuesday. These past 4 years have truly flown by and I have had an amazing college experience. I have been engrossed with finishing up final assignments, attending ceremonies for graduates, my job search, and lots of interviews. But, the Lord placed a special message in my heart and I had to share with you all today on this lovely Self-Love Sunday. I hope you all can enjoy and even relate to this.

Have you ever made a statement that others didn’t understand? Have you ever explained yourself and people still didn’t know what you meant? Have you ever felt like others are confused by you or your thoughts? Have you ever made a statement similar to, “no one gets me?” Have you ever began to question yourself due to people’s inability to relate or even comprehend you or your thoughts. Everyone experiences these feelings at one point of time or another. These feelings are also associated with being misunderstood.

Misunderstood: incorrectly interpreted or understood.
To be misunderstood can be very discouraging. It can leave a person feeling a variety of emotions, such as shame, guilt, hopelessness, and the list continues on. I personally know the effects of feeling misunderstood firsthand. Sometimes, I have felt completely alone and ultimately, frustrated because I felt like others did not understand me. I wanted someone to level with me, my emotions, and my thoughts. However, when I stated how I felt, it seemed as if I was received by statements or “advice” that I did not want to hear. It seemed as if everyone stated how they felt and totally disregarded my emotions or my situation. This led to a level of frustration that encouraged me to stay to myself, to deal with things on my own. However, trying to handle everything on my own, in regard to every situation was not and is not the answer. I was so distraught one day, that I began to seek God for council. He was the only one I felt truly understood me because he knew me better than any other person could ever. When you feel misunderstood, what do you do? Do you battle with something internally? Or do you attempt to off an explanation of your thought processes so someone can support you?

It’s okay to be misunderstood. Everyone can not always relate to every thing you are thinking, feeling, or saying. And that is perfectly okay. You know better than others how you feel and how certain situations effect you. Maybe if people could read your mind, then they would be able to better understand and relate, but that is not reality. Just as you feel misunderstood at certain moments and times, so do your friends, loved ones, and family members. So in these moments when you feel understand, remember that your feelings matter, regardless of who can and can not relate to you. Acknowledge these feelings, thoughts, and emotions; and do not suppress them. If you do not acknowledge them then they will continue to haunt you and eventually drive you crazy. And you certainly do not need any person to validate your feelings or thoughts. If people can not understand, then offer to explain. And if they still can not understand, then don’t worry about it. 

The reality of being misunderstood is that you can not be understood at all times by people. Just because someone does not understand you does not mean that something is wrong with you. This is important to know and remember whenever you feel misunderstood. Every one is not equipped to deal with all you deal with, and every one does not know how to be supportive or understanding of things they can not comprehend.  When people can not understand something, it scares them and are not always receptive. Do you think people always understood Jesus or Albert Einstein? But did being understood keep them from accomplishing their goals or purpose in life? NO! Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, “To be great is to be misunderstood.”  So, I guess as we can see, even some of the most notable people in history dealt with being misunderstood. And if they dealt with it, so can we. Remember, never let someone’s misunderstanding of you dim the light that shines from within.

Today, I challenge you to embrace being misunderstood. Never apologize to those who do not understand you. Recognize that every one will not get you. Every one will not see the vision that you have or understand why you are passionate about particular things. Above all else, focus on you. Don’t worry about confusion or misunderstanding. Remember, to be great is to be misunderstood and because of that, you may be misunderstood more often than not. Don’t let this stop you, keep going and loving yourself for who you are! I am misunderstood and not ashamed, allow yourself to embrace being misunderstood, too.