Is being a Christian being Christ -like?

Recently, I have been reflecting a lot on my life as a Christian, and what all God has had to correct in my mind and heart the pass couple years. This road has been enlightening, challenging, difficult, painful, yet rewarding, peaceful and restful. Mega oxymoron right?
When I first gave my life to God, I became His child. I also became what is known as a Christian. I was told I must now live for God. This included reading my bible, going to church, being active in the church, praying a lot, and anything else my church fellowship said was the 'Christian' thing to do. In essence,  it was a "do this" "don't do that" kind of instructions. I became quite good at it.
However,  Christ did not call us to that. I am realizing now that being born again/becoming a Christian, was the first step. And, unfortunately, what should come after, was not really what I was told.
The second step is following Christ. Not a church denomination; or just making sure I pray everyday and read my bible; or making sure I meet all the imposed requirements from 'the church' so I am regarded as a 'good Christian' or truely born again, but Christ.
I must, immediately after my new birth, start following Christ and meeting His requirements daily to follow Him. This has been absent from my life for years.
See, I am realizing that there are more than one interpretation of 'following Christ'. There is Christ's interpretation, and then there are all the rest.
Since we should be following Christ, shouldn't we go by His interpretation? If not, then I think we will miss what He really means by following Him. We will also miss out on what He offers.
Christ offers Himself. If we have Him, we have everything, because He is the source. He offered Himself on the cross, but we will only reap the benifits of that if we accept Him. We must receive Christ Himself, not go to Him, get what we need and then run off. Our acceptance of Him does not stop when we first gave our lives to Him. It continues daily as we follow Him.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

New Year

A good new year's resolution - follow Christ. It is simpler than you think. It can, however, be challenging, and painful, but the rewards are more than worth it.
Jesus's requirements:
Matthew 16:24 (NLT)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
Three things Christ requires of us if we are to follow Him.
*Deny ourselves/give up our own way
*Take up our individual cross
*Follow Him
Very simple. Very challenging. And sometimes very painful. We all must meet these requirements simultaneously and wholeheartedly. No half way, or one foot in/one foot out. We are either following Him or not. We can't be trying to follow Him, or planning to follow Him; we must follow Him.
How do we meet these high requirements?
Jesus said in Matthew 11: 29,
Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
We don't have to try to follow Christ anymore. We simply become yoked with Him, and He will teach us every moment, every situation, everyday how to be like Him.
You get it? He stated His requirements, and provided the way to accomplish it.
Yoked with Him.
No other way is genuine.
Let me end with this, the 'rest for your souls' is real. You can feel it and bask in it 24/7.
Join me and become true followers of Christ.