Muchness

Although it didn't make it onto my list of "Things I Love to Watch", I deeply enjoy Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. This movie is very bizarre, so it might not be everyone's cup of tea (pun intended). However, beneath all the strangeness, there are many meaningful quotes and messages. At one point in the film, the Mad Hatter tells Alice that she has lost her "muchness". By "muchness", he means her unique courage and creativity - what makes her herself.

Whenever any of us enter a group, we carry a certain presence. We inhabit space. Some people have larger-than-life personalities that are impossible to ignore. Others feel overlooked most of the time. Regardless, as we grow older, most of us learn to suppress aspects of ourselves in order to feel accepted and loved. We lose some of the "muchness" that came more naturally to us as children.

Embracing your "muchness" is a different journey for everybody. For as long as I can remember, I've had a passionate inner world. However, because I experience life so intensely, I often struggle to communicate my thoughts and emotions to others. Feelings of anxiety, weakness, and timidity have held me back on many occasions, and it's a fight to speak up. I'm learning to lean into my adventurous nature, though, and have experienced freedom in the process.

Some of my friends and family members don't seem to struggle with letting themselves be heard. I admire their assertiveness and charisma, because these aren't qualities that come naturally to me. Yet I've heard people with these traits express that they've often felt shamed for having such large personalities. Maybe for those who fall more on this side of the spectrum, the path to embracing "muchness" looks like valuing and creating space for other voices, while still being their wonderfully strong selves.

Considering this topic from a Christian perspective is powerful, because the Bible teaches that all humans are made in God's image. Our diverse quirks and temperaments, in their healthiest forms, are like intricate artwork alluding to what our Creator is like.

Like most everything I share on this blog, this is just my ponderings. If you take anything away from all this, I'd encourage you to consider this question: "Are there aspects of my personality that I dislike or try to conceal? If so, what might it look like for me to rediscover my muchness?"

Praying for you!❤️