Don't fool yourself!
Sticks and Stones may break your bones. BUT, words CAN hurt!
Humanity is created to be in community with others. As part of that, we are meant to sense how others are reacting to us so that we can be better parts of the community.
As such, we DO react to other people's interaction with us. So, when someone intentionally says or does things that are cruel and uncaring… it hurts.
Implicit in criticism is the idea that we did not meet the expectations of—even if it is just one person—our community. That leads to (insert long psychological discussion here) us feeling hurt.
There's no doubt. Words CAN hurt, so don't pretend they don't. Let people know when they are hurting you, and if they care about you, they will stop.
And DON'T use your words in a way that could hurt others!
Monday, August 31, 2020
Thursday, August 27, 2020
The Undesirable Path
Help! I'm lost!
Ever feel like you are on a path that might not be leading you to where you want to go? You don't have to stay there.
Just because you don't see any options ahead, doesn't mean there are none. It's possible that they are there, but you can't see them.
When you feel like you are stuck, don't panic. Take a moment and look around. Find someone who cares about you—a parent, teacher, coach, minister, aunt, uncle, friend—and ask for help.
It might be that they know of a different path you can take. A path you cannot see by yourself.
You don't have to go it alone. It's fine to ask for help.
Ever feel like you are on a path that might not be leading you to where you want to go? You don't have to stay there.
Just because you don't see any options ahead, doesn't mean there are none. It's possible that they are there, but you can't see them.
When you feel like you are stuck, don't panic. Take a moment and look around. Find someone who cares about you—a parent, teacher, coach, minister, aunt, uncle, friend—and ask for help.
It might be that they know of a different path you can take. A path you cannot see by yourself.
You don't have to go it alone. It's fine to ask for help.
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Control The Message
With your words and your actions, you—every day—proclaim a message to the world.
You can't always control who hears the message. Your circumstances put you in the presence of people, and usually, who they are depends on factors outside your influence.
But whoever you are around… coworkers, customers, students, teammates… Make sure you are living in ways and saying words that put out the message you want your life to have.
You may not be able to control who it is that "hears" you. But, you can control the message the hear.
Your life and words are yours to use. Use them to make the world better.
You can't always control who hears the message. Your circumstances put you in the presence of people, and usually, who they are depends on factors outside your influence.
But whoever you are around… coworkers, customers, students, teammates… Make sure you are living in ways and saying words that put out the message you want your life to have.
You may not be able to control who it is that "hears" you. But, you can control the message the hear.
Your life and words are yours to use. Use them to make the world better.
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
What Are They Doing?
Do you ever look at someone and wonder what they are doing? What are they thinking!
Out of nowhere, someone does something that you just don't understand. Surely, there must be something wrong with them!
But…
Is it possible that the person doing that unexplainable thing knows something you don't or has different priorities than you do? Perhaps the reason you don't understand what they are doing is because you don't understand things from their point of view!
Maybe you are just being judgmental!
Don't do that.
Out of nowhere, someone does something that you just don't understand. Surely, there must be something wrong with them!
But…
Is it possible that the person doing that unexplainable thing knows something you don't or has different priorities than you do? Perhaps the reason you don't understand what they are doing is because you don't understand things from their point of view!
Maybe you are just being judgmental!
Don't do that.
Monday, August 24, 2020
Using Your Platform
Do you want to live in a way that you are making things around you better?
Maybe you answer "yes" to this, but you don't think you have any way of doing this. Maybe you think you need to have some large social media audience if you want to make a difference.
You don't.
Everyone has the platform of being a human in the world. In that world are other humans. Your realm of influence might only be the people in your office or the customers who come to your cash register, but—THAT IS a platform you can use to touch the lives of THOSE people.
Use the opportunities you have to make a difference in the lives of people you meet.
You have a platform through which you can voice and act out your ideas. Are you using it?
Maybe you answer "yes" to this, but you don't think you have any way of doing this. Maybe you think you need to have some large social media audience if you want to make a difference.
You don't.
Everyone has the platform of being a human in the world. In that world are other humans. Your realm of influence might only be the people in your office or the customers who come to your cash register, but—THAT IS a platform you can use to touch the lives of THOSE people.
Use the opportunities you have to make a difference in the lives of people you meet.
You have a platform through which you can voice and act out your ideas. Are you using it?
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