Counsels on Self-Identity

Counsel #18 — Everyday Choices

Picture: Counsel #18 — Everyday Choices CI 57.1

You don’t have to wait for a promotion or a glowing report card to start treating yourself with dignity. Self-respect is built in everyday choices that shape how you see yourself. CI 57.2

Take sleep, for example. Staying up past midnight every night scrolling through your phone might feel harmless, but as time passes, it’ll chip away at your energy, focus, and your overall mood. Choosing a consistent bedtime, or even going to bed just 30 minutes earlier, means that you value your body and mind enough to get the rest you need. Or think about food. When you make the effort to eat something that fuels instead of only fills, you’re choosing to make your well-being matter.^[57] It’s not just about physical care, either. Spending five minutes in prayer before class, reading a Bible verse instead of reaching for your phone, or writing down one thing you’re grateful for gives your soul what it really craves. Even Jesus made time to rest, pray, and step away from the crowds. He wasn’t rushed, and He didn’t ignore His needs. He expects you to do no less. CI 57.3

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” 1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV CI 57.4

“It is required of each one of us to preserve our health and strength by the practice of temperance in all things.” Ellen White in Special Testimonies on Education, p. 35 CI 57.5

Reflect: What’s one unhealthy habit you can adjust this week? CI 57.6