2023年4月inHIM系列｜跟從 Following

常看到或聽到「做自己」，每逢那個當下，你的反應是什麼？這幾個字，熟悉得不能再熟悉，卻陌生得不能再陌生，若要你說清確切的含義，你是否茫然不解？

What is your reaction whenever you hear the phrase, “Just be yourself”? These words are extremely familiar, yet unfamiliar at the same time. If you were to explain the meaning of this phrase, would you really be able to?

其實「做自己」並不難，可以將每一個情緒、反應、想要、心思意念無止境地放大；也可以是內心每天所在上演的拆毀和重建，力求找到內外一致的和諧；也可以是竭力還原造物主設計你的天性......哪樣才能真正地造就你？

Actually, "being yourself" is not difficult. You may reflect on every emotion, reaction, desire, and thought endlessly; You may find yourself with a lot of internal and external struggles, learning to balance them; Or you may even be trying to understand the original purposes of why the Creator made you.

最近看了一篇文章，有句話很深刻：「我們這個時代大部分人都在過一種「三隨」的生活——隨便、隨大流和隨慣性；只有很少的人，真的知道自己想幹什麼。」你現在仍是「三隨」的其中一員嗎？在日復一日的瑣碎事情中，你跟從的是什麼？

I read an article recently, which deeply touched me. It shares that most people in the current generation are experiencing three kinds of lifestyles, those who are spontaneous, those who are keen to follow social norms, or just following their own way. To be frank, only a few people really know what they want. Question is, are you one of them? What kind of lifestyle are you adopting daily?

「跟從」的「從」字特別有趣，一個人跟著一個人，一前一後，後面的人順從前面的人。你今天跟從的對象是誰？好比你有一個學習榜樣，你可以在他身邊晃悠，參加聚會，這並不會使你成為他這類人；只有當你跟從他，做他所做的事，順從效法他的方式與法則，你才有機會成為他這類人。

The word “following” is particularly interesting. The Chinese word for, “follow” consists of two Chinese characters. From the Chinese perspective, one of these characters can mean one person following another, one in front of another, or even one person obeying another. So who are you following today? Let’s assume that you have a role model whom you are following, you can hang around or go to different gatherings with this person. However, this will not make you become like this person. You can only have the chance to be like them, only if you learn and act based on their lifestyle, methods and principles in life.

在「跟從」的訓練中，總有一個特別安全的保護機制——你的跟從對象，他在你前面，走過你正在走的路。這或許不被大多數人適應與接納，卻在一次次的環境中塑造你的「肌肉記憶」，實踐每一個方式與法則，不斷認清自己的界限，堅定自己的腳步，讓你的每次跟從不只是追求速度，而是追求品質。

In order to train yourself in being a “follower”, there is a unique mechanism that will keep you safe - and that is who you are following. He is walking in front of you, and has gone through what you are going through now. Not many people may understand and accept this, but it helps to shape you in walking out every principle and method throughout your journey of “following” them. You will constantly be able to understand your limitations, and strengthen your journey. Ultimately, what you are pursuing will no longer be focused on speed, but the quality.

願你有一顆跟從的心，在這個不斷「做加法」的社會中，找到自己的邊界，做最適合自己的「減法」，在自我接納、自我負責、自我超越中持守每一個方法與法則。

In this society that keeps demanding “adding” new things, may you have a pure heart with the willingness to submit and follow, may your journey of being a follower enable you to discover your limitations and what kind of approach is the best “removing” of things in your life. By doing so, you will be able to embrace self-acceptance, self-responsibility and self-breakthrough in your journey, while keeping the methods and principles that you have learned of being a follower.