The Me I Want To Be John Ortberg

What The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg Actually Does

John Ortberg wrote The Me I Want to Be as a devotional aimed at young adults navigating identity, character, and faith. It breaks down into short daily readings, each tied to a specific life theme like friendship, self-image, or purpose. Ortberg pulls from his experience as a pastor and counselor, weaving in biblical references alongside practical advice. The book is organized around twenty-four key themes. Each theme spans several days of readings. Every entry follows a consistent format: a relatable scenario or observation, a scripture reference, a brief reflection, and one or two action steps or questions for journaling. It is not a thick theological text. It is meant to be read in five to ten minutes a day.

The Me I Want To Be John Ortberg – What to Expect

I picked this up years ago when a friend recommended it for someone struggling with self-worth. Ortberg does not treat self-improvement as secular self-help stripped of faith. He explicitly frames personal growth within a Christian worldview. That distinction matters because it shapes how he handles topics like ambition, appearance, and failure. One thing most people miss about the structure is that the action steps are intentionally small. Ortberg avoids grand resolutions. A typical suggestion might be writing down three things you appreciate about yourself, or having one honest conversation with a friend. The small-steps approach is deliberate. Big changes tend to fail because people set goals that require too much willpower at once. Here is a practical edge case I ran into. I tried reading through the book in a single week instead of the intended daily pace. The reflection questions lost their impact entirely. They started feeling like checkboxes. The workaround was simple: I went back and limited myself to one entry per day, even if it meant sitting with a passage longer than usual. The material rewards slowness.

How to Use This Book Effectively

Start by committing to one reading per day. Do not skip ahead. Ortberg designed the progression so that later themes build on earlier ones. If you jump around randomly, you will miss the through-line about identity being rooted in something external rather than internal achievement. Keep a notebook nearby. Write out answers to the reflection questions. Ortberg includes prompts like "What do you most want people to say about you?" or "Where do you see yourself heading in five years?" These are not decorative. They force you to confront gaps between your current behavior and the person you claim to want to become. Skipping the writing step turns the book into passive reading, which is less useful than watching a thirty-minute video on the same topics. If you are using this as a group study, assign one theme per week. Let people share their answers. The book works well in small groups because the questions are personal but not invasive. People tend to open up more when they know others are working through similar struggles.

Common Pitfalls

Some readers treat this as a quick fix. It is not. Ortberg does not promise overnight transformation. If you expect the book to resolve deep-seated issues like chronic anxiety or trauma, you will be disappointed. It addresses surface-level character development and identity formation. For clinical concerns, professional counseling is the appropriate path. Another issue I noticed: some readers find the scripture references light. Ortberg quotes passages but does not do deep exegesis. If you want thorough Bible study, pair this with a study bible or a commentary. The book is supplemental, not exhaustive.

Where to Get It

You can find The Me I Want to Be on major booksellers. It is available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats. Check your local bookstore or online retailers for the current edition. Ortberg has released updated versions over the years, so look for the most recent printing to ensure the formatting and any additional content reflect revisions. The book is also available through many church bookstores and Christian retail chains. If you are part of a congregation, ask the staff. They often carry devotional materials and may have group study guides to accompany the book.

Bottom Line

The Me I Want to Be is a straightforward devotional for people who want practical guidance on character and identity without heavy academic language. It is not groundbreaking in its theology. It does not offer anything Ortberg has not said in his sermons or other writings. What it does well is packaging that content into a daily habit that is easy to sustain. If you are willing to engage with the reflection questions and stick to a daily rhythm, it can serve as a useful tool for intentional personal growth. If you are looking for deep biblical scholarship or clinical psychology, this is not the right resource.