God didn’t call you to become a quieter, beige version of yourself. He uses the personality he gave you.

Becoming serious about something, faith included, is sometimes mistaken for becoming quieter and less distinct. Flattening your personality is not what is being asked, and the loud, funny, intense or stubborn parts of you are the material you were given to work with. Change of character is about direction rather than volume. You are not meant to subtract yourself.

Notice where you have been shrinking in order to seem appropriate: the humour, the enthusiasm, the strong opinion. Put one of those back this week and see whether anything bad actually happens. Aim your temperament at something useful instead of turning it down.