Not That Guy

I recently have found myself making an interesting statement.

When I say or do something that I don't like that I do, I will often say, "I don't want to be that guy."

I say it a lot and I've learned that I may be focusing on the wrong thing.

I wonder at times whether or not I should think about the type of person that I choose to be.

Is that something worth thinking about, or by ignoring it will my identity work itself out. Honestly, I have no idea how to answer this question at this point in my life, but based off of my experiences thus far in life, I'd say there should be a balance of both.

You shouldn't be spending so much time worrying about who you are, because who you are should be made clear by how you interact with and treat others. At the same time, self awareness is just as important. You should know how you dealing with someone a certain way will not only impact you, but also impact others view of who you are.

I'm not talking about caring about what others think of you, because that shouldn't matter if you
are living rightly.

"A king may move a man, a father may claim a son. But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say 'but I was told by others to do thus' or that 'virtue was not convenient at the time'. This will not suffice. Remember that."
-King Baldwin IV from Kingdom of Heaven

At the end of the day your actions are your own. I pray that the message you are sending to others is not, "man, I don't want to be that guy..."

No. That's not what I want at all.

What I pray is that people see how you are living and say to themselves, "Man, I want to be that guy."