I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day as a beautiful new day dawns!
This morning I want to touch on the front end of "What Will Your Influence Be...?" The things that we pour into our own hearts, minds & souls. It is these things that determine the influence we will have on every person we cross paths with this and every day.
What do you believe? I mean really believe to the depths of your soul. In researching this Happy Friday - yes, I actually do research for these! :) - I came across a blog post that captures the question perfectly. It is taken from the Single Dad Laughing blog and it was written by Dan Pearce on May 19, 2011. Here is the passage that gets to the heart of the question I am asking us this morning:
"'Dan, why do you believe what you believe?'
I answered that it was what I had been taught. I answered that I believed in it because it felt right. He replied, "Have you ever questioned it?" I told him I had. He then repeated his question. "Have you ever really questioned it?" I began to fidget uncomfortably. "I mean, have you ever really had the courage to learn how you might be wrong a the same time that you've worked so hard to prove yourself right? Have you ever really had the courage to accept the possibility that something else might actually be right?" I had to think for a minute. I told him I didn't know and that I didn't really need to because I was confident in my beliefs.
He looked at me and smiled. "Dan, would you bank everything you have on your beliefs?" I told him I thought I would. "Are you so sure of your beliefs that you would give your life for them?" He was very serious. I didn't answer. "Would you bet your son's life on your beliefs?" I didn't answer. "Would you lose everything, including the people you love most to stand behind your beliefs?" Again, I didn't answer.
Instead, I silently attempted to gauge my believes without showing my own sudden vulnerabilities. Would I give up everything when it actually came down to it? Would I die for my beliefs? Did I really believe what I believed that I believed? I finally looked at him and said, "No, I wouldn't."
His reply was simple, and I'll never forget it. "Then they're not really your beliefs. They're somebody else's beliefs. They're borrowed beliefs. And until you make them your own, you're living somebody else's life." I didn't have an answer. I didn't really want to go where he was taking me. I'd been avoiding it most of my life. He took advantage of my continued silence. "It doesn't matter what you believe, Dan. It matters how you believe and why you believe. And until you honestly, and I mean honestly question your beliefs, including how they might be both right and wrong, you can't truly claim those beliefs as your own.'"
Anyone else feel like they have been hit right between the eyes with a 2 x 4?!?! :)
One, make that two, things I would say...
1. I believe it does matter what you believe however I don't believe I have the right to tell you what you should/have to believe. God is a God of free will so who am I to think I have the right to tell you what you should/have to do? Your life journey is yours and mine is mine. As the saying goes, we all have to do our own living and dying.
2. I believe that we all do believe in something. We walk this belief out every day in where we go for strength, in the thoughts we have, the words we speak and the things we do. I don't believe it is a question of "Do you believe?" but rather a questions of "What do you believe?" Honestly...
The second thing I want to touch on is "Where do you go to get your strength?" It is directly tied back to the question of "What do you believe?" for what we believe will directly influence where we go to find strength when - not if, when - the storms of life come. We all will turn to something. What is it?
At this point I don't want to pretend to have any answers. I simply want to share two scriptures that speak deeply to my heart...every time. When I am worried, stressed, concerned, fearful...or if I just need to remind myself what I believe. :)
"But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength." - 2 Timothy 4: 17
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
- Isaiah 41: 10
Finally, I have come across several really good quotes in the last few weeks...just want to share some of them with y'all this morning!
"What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Fill your mind with truth, your heart with love, your life with service." - Unknown
"Each day you are leading by example. Whether you realize it or not or whether it's positive or negative, you are influencing those around you." - Rob Liano
"There will always be somebody more successful, and more talented. But you're not running their race. You're running your race." - Germany Kent
"Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference." - Jane Goodall
"Every thought you have during the day will either disempower or empower you. Be kind to yourself. YOU are braver than your fears and much bigger than your worries." - Gordana Biernat
"Every day focus on your purpose. Remember why you do what you do. We don't get burned out because of what we do, we get burned out because we forget why we do it." - Jon Gordon
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families...only 10 days until Christmas! :)
Kev
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