Do the New You

Do the New You Plot Summary

Introduction

Life often sets traps for us that keep us frozen in place. We become stuck in patterns of thinking about ourselves that limit who we could become. "Just do you" might sound like liberating advice, but it can actually become a cage when we overcommit to our current self-concept and close ourselves off to growth. Similarly, many of us climb onto the "future you" treadmill - exhausting ourselves chasing an idealized version of ourselves that always remains just out of reach, based on comparing ourselves to others' highlight reels. What if there's a better way? What if you could escape both the trap of doing the same old you and the treadmill of striving for an impossible future you? The truth is that God created you with a specific identity and purpose in mind - the true you. This true you includes who you are today but isn't stuck there. It encompasses many of your dreams for the future but isn't frustrated by the gap between where you are and where you're going. By aligning your mindsets with God's vision, you can live authentically as the person he created you to be, stepping into a fuller version of yourself day by day.

Chapter 1: Chapter One: Action-oriented Title

The mindset "I'm not stuck unless I stop" is revolutionary because it places the power of progress back in your hands. No matter what obstacles life throws your way, you have the ability to keep moving forward. This mindset isn't about denying difficulties but about refusing to let them define your story or determine your destination. Steven Furtick illustrates this through a story about his son Elijah and swimming. When Elijah was seven years old, he wanted to show his brothers he could cross the pool underwater in one breath. Though he had never done it before, Steven encouraged him saying, "The lizard brain is going to tell you that you can't do it. But the lizard is lying." Confused, Elijah asked if there was actually a lizard in his brain. Steven explained that the human brain has a survival part that kicks in during emergencies, which some people call the "lizard brain." When Elijah emerged from swimming across the pool gasping but triumphant, Steven asked how she felt. She exclaimed, "Man, that lizard is loud!" When asked what she said back to the lizard, she proudly replied, "I told him, 'Shut up, lizard! I'm doing this.'" This simple but powerful response demonstrated exactly what it means to refuse to be stuck even when everything in you wants to stop. This mindset works because it separates you from your feelings of being trapped. When you say "I'm stuck," you're actually saying "I've chosen to stop." But when you realize your agency in the situation, you can begin looking for creative solutions. Sometimes this means asking for help, like when Steven reached out to a financially successful friend for advice when he felt trapped by his lack of investment knowledge. The result was freedom and a practical roadmap forward. To practice this mindset in your own life, start by identifying where you feel most stuck right now. Then ask yourself: What's one small step I could take today? Who could help me see this differently? What would I do if I truly believed I wasn't stuck? Remember that progress isn't about taking giant leaps but about refusing to remain stationary when obstacles appear. This mindset doesn't promise instant solutions or claim that every problem is easily fixed. What it does promise is that when you commit to progress - when you refuse to stop - you're already unstuck. As you step forward, God will meet you with grace for each new challenge, empowering you to break free from whatever has been holding you back.

Chapter 2: Chapter Two: Strategic Principle

Christ is in me. I am enough. This simple affirmation represents a profound truth about your identity and capability. It's not about denying your weaknesses or pretending you don't have limitations. Rather, it's about recognizing that your sufficiency comes from Christ in you, not from your own efforts or perfection. Helen Maroulis, an American wrestler, demonstrated the power of this mindset at the 2016 Olympics. Standing in the tunnel before the women's wrestling finals match, she faced Japanese competitor Saori Yoshida - a three-time Olympic champion with thirteen world gold medals. Helen had faced Yoshida twice before and lost both times. The atmosphere was electric with tension. When Helen glanced at her opponent, anxiety threatened to overwhelm her. "God, how do I protect myself right now?" she thought. Her response became her mantra: "Christ is in me. I am enough. Christ is in me. I am enough." Minutes later, Helen defeated Yoshida 4-1 in one of the biggest upsets in wrestling history. This story illustrates how this mindset works in moments of intense pressure. When Helen could have focused on her opponent's superior record or her own past failures, she instead focused on the truth that Christ's presence in her was sufficient. She didn't deny the challenge; she redefined her relationship to it. The power wasn't in her alone but in Christ working through her. To integrate this mindset into your daily life, start by identifying where you feel insufficient. Perhaps it's in your parenting, your career, your relationships, or your personal development. Then, instead of focusing on what you lack, remind yourself that Christ's sufficiency fills those gaps. This isn't spiritual bypassing or denying reality - it's recognizing that your limitations aren't the whole story. Try practicing a daily affirmation: "Christ is in me. I am enough for today's challenges." When you catch yourself saying "I don't have enough patience/intelligence/creativity/experience," replace it with "I have Christ, and he is enough." This subtle shift can transform how you approach every situation. Remember that accepting yourself doesn't mean settling for less than you can be. It means embracing who you are today while growing into who God designed you to become. You're not enough because of what you can do - you're enough because of who is in you. This truth frees you from the treadmill of constant striving and the trap of self-rejection, allowing you to live from a place of abundance rather than scarcity.

Chapter 3: Chapter Three: Practical Method

With God there's always a way, and by faith I will find it. This mindset transforms how you approach obstacles, shifting your focus from problems to possibilities. It's not blind optimism that denies difficulties, but a clear-eyed faith that sees beyond them to the path God is creating. Rick Beato's story exemplifies this principle in action. At fifty-four years old, Rick was a music producer experiencing a career downturn. The music business was changing, recording budgets were shrinking, and he felt somewhat depressed about his future prospects. Then, almost accidentally, a video he posted of his son Dylan demonstrating perfect pitch went viral. His intern suggested he start a YouTube channel - an idea Rick initially dismissed as ridiculous. "I looked around, and there was nobody with gray hair like mine on YouTube," Rick explained. "I was a producer, a music teacher. I was a behind-the-scenes guy. In all my years of producing, I never allowed people to take pictures or video of me." Despite his reservations, Rick decided to try something new. He began creating videos about music theory, song analysis, and interviews with musicians. At first, few people watched, but gradually his channel gained traction. Today, Rick has over three million subscribers. What makes his story remarkable isn't just his success but his willingness to reinvent himself at an age when most people have settled into fixed identities and limited possibilities. The transformation began when Rick opened himself to a new direction. He didn't know where it would lead, but he was willing to explore the possibility. This openness is the first key to embracing this mindset. God often works in unexpected ways, opening doors we didn't even know existed. But we have to be willing to walk through them. To cultivate this mindset in your own life, start by examining where you've written "impossible" over situations in your life. Have you decided certain dreams are too late to pursue? Have you concluded some relationships are beyond repair? Have you determined some habits cannot be broken? Challenge these assumptions by asking, "If God wanted to make a way here, what might it look like?" Next, take inventory of previous "impossible" situations God has resolved in your life. Recall at least three specific examples where you couldn't see a way forward, but God provided one. This practice builds your faith muscle and reminds you that past deliverances are evidence of future possibilities. Finally, remember that finding God's way often requires taking the next step in faith before the entire path is visible. Like crossing the Jordan River at flood stage, sometimes the waters don't part until your feet get wet. The path forward may not look like what you expected or wanted, but it will lead you where you need to go if you keep moving in faith. This mindset doesn't promise easy solutions or instant miracles. Sometimes the way through is harder than the way around would have been. But it does promise that with God, there is always a way forward, and by faith, you will find it.

Chapter 4: Chapter Four: Transformative Approach

God is not against me, but he's in it with me, working through me, fighting for me. This mindset transforms your relationship with challenges by reframing God's role in your difficulties. Instead of seeing God as distant or punishing during trials, you recognize Him as your closest ally, empowering you from within. Gideon's story in Judges 6 powerfully illustrates this principle. When we meet Gideon, he's hiding in a winepress, threshing wheat to keep it from the Midianite oppressors. He's operating from fear, trying to protect the little he has while his entire nation suffers. Then an angel appears and addresses him, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." This greeting was jarring to Gideon, who saw himself as the smallest member of the weakest family in his tribe - certainly not a warrior, and definitely not mighty. Instead of acknowledging the compliment, Gideon immediately complains: "If the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?" His focus was on his circumstances rather than on God's presence and power. God responded, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" Still, Gideon protested his inadequacy, unable to see himself as God saw him. This exchange reveals how we often let our complaints cancel out God's compliments. We focus so intently on what's missing or broken that we can't hear God telling us what we're capable of. The transformation begins when we start believing what God says about us rather than what our fears and past experiences suggest. To embrace this mindset, first recognize when you're listening to the "lizard brain" - that voice of catastrophe and worst-case scenarios. When Abbey was trying to swim across the pool, she had to fight against the instinct telling her she couldn't make it. Similarly, you need to identify when fear is speaking louder than faith in your life. Next, replace those negative voices with God's truth. Create a habit of speaking this affirmation aloud when facing challenges: "God is not against me, but he's in it with me, working through me, fighting for me." This isn't empty positive thinking; it's aligning your thoughts with spiritual reality. Also, make peace with your strengths. Sometimes we focus so much on humility that we refuse to acknowledge the gifts God has given us. Gideon had to accept that despite feeling weak and small, God saw him as mighty. You too may need to embrace capabilities you've been downplaying or denying. Remember that God never confuses who you are with where you're at. You might be in a terrible situation, but that doesn't define your identity or potential. Just as Gideon was hiding in a winepress when God called him "mighty warrior," your current circumstances don't limit what God can do through you. This mindset gives you confidence to step out of hiding and into your calling, knowing that even if you face opposition, God is fighting for you every step of the way.

Chapter 5: Chapter Five: Powerful Strategy

My joy is my job. This simple but profound mindset transforms how you handle emotions and navigate life's ups and downs. It's not about forcing happiness or denying genuine feelings, but about taking responsibility for your emotional wellbeing rather than outsourcing it to circumstances or other people. Steven shares a revealing story about a family vacation conversation. While eating lunch, he asked his family, "Who's the happiest person you know?" After his children gave various answers (none of which included him), he turned to his wife Holly and said, "Holly, you are the happiest person I know." It wasn't flattery - it was true. She replied, "That's so sweet," and then named someone else as her answer. This moment gave Steven a lot to think about. He realized he tends to look serious, even angry, and isn't naturally optimistic. His first instinct in situations is to spot vulnerabilities, liabilities, and obstacles. This story highlights how our emotional tendencies can become default settings if we don't intentionally manage them. Steven calls this "the hard work of happiness," referencing a quote from Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys: "I'm 70 years old and it took me a long time to learn a really simple thing: it's hard work to be happy." Happiness doesn't just happen - it requires effort, awareness, and choice. To practice this mindset, Steven suggests starting with the N.E.W. approach: Notice, Evaluate, Walk In. First, notice your thoughts, reactions, feelings, and fears without judgment. You can't change what you don't acknowledge. Next, evaluate whether these thoughts and feelings align with who you want to be. Are they helpful or harmful? Finally, walk in the emotional state you choose, not the one your circumstances might dictate. A practical tool Steven uses is the "GR8FUL 8" exercise. When negative emotions threaten to take over, he quickly lists eight things he's grateful for, tracing each finger on one hand with the other as he goes. This simple practice interrupts negative thought patterns and redirects focus to abundance rather than lack. The items can be as simple as "I'm grateful my shoulder doesn't hurt this morning" or "I'm grateful I get to take my daughter to school today." Another strategy is asking yourself, "If I lost what I love most, what would I give to have it back?" The answer is usually "everything" - which means you already have everything that truly matters. This perspective shift can transform your emotional response to daily irritations and setbacks. Remember that owning your emotions doesn't mean denying them. It means giving yourself space to feel them while not letting them define you. As Psalm 118:24 says, "This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." The key word is "will" - joy is an act of the will, a choice we make regardless of circumstances. Your joy is your job, and with practice, you can learn to do it well.

Summary

Throughout this journey of discovering and embracing the true you, we've explored six transformative mindsets that can free you from both the trap of doing the same old you and the treadmill of chasing an impossible future you. These mindsets aren't mere positive thinking - they're practical tools for aligning your thoughts with God's perspective so you can live authentically as the person he created you to be. As Steven powerfully states, "God chose you before the creation of the world, and that means he chose you before life got messed up or you got messed up." Your task now is to choose yourself - to reject the voices that would limit you and embrace the truth of who God says you are. Today, make one small choice that reflects the new you rather than the old. Perhaps it's responding with patience instead of irritation, or taking a step toward a dream you've been hesitating to pursue. Remember, you haven't fully met you yet, but God has, and he's inviting you to walk into that true identity one choice at a time.

About Author

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Steven Furtick

Steven Furtick is the founder and lead pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, named by Outreach magazine as one of the top 10 fastest growing churches in the nation. In four years, Elevation has grown to more than 6,000 people in regular attendance in three locations. Steven holds a degree in communication from North Greenville University, and a Master of Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Holly, have two young sons—Elijah and Graham—and make their home in the Charlotte area.

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