Actions speak much louder than words.
Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you do, and you will presently come to love him.”
~ C.S. Lewis from “Mere Christianity”
Stop overthinking it…
Ask yourself, “If I loved my neighbor, what would I do?”
Then do that.
Make everyone’s day happier
by giving them a piece of your
heart
instead of a piece of your mind!
Jesus replied:
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:37-39 NIV
“Love isn’t a state of perfect caring.
It is an active noun, like “struggle”.
To love someone is to strive to accept that person
exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.”
~ Fred Rogers quote
No one is perfect. Not even you or me… and yet we are all loved, and can love.
Love is a gift. Pass it on…
(Even if it’s a struggle, how can you demonstrate you accept her or him exactly as they are? See below for 5 ideas. )
Let’s put some sweat equity into loving someone… show you love her or him exactly the way they are, right now and here.
These ideas are from a special book by a fellow we admire, Dr. Gary Chapman. His books are classic, and the simple ideas can be put into practice for anyone.
His premise is that one of these five actions will resonate the most – it’s like the primary language of love that you speak. The key is to find the action that the other person translates as “speaking love”.
I suggest you try all five as you lean into loving that someone.
Here are the links for the books by Gary Chapman about the Love Languages. He’s covered all kinds of relationships: couples, singles, children, teens, and men. If you’re curious what your own “love language” is, then go to his website and complete a quick survey.
Here’s an infographic created by
Notice what others do well.
Point it out.
It’ll make their day!
People simply feel better about themselves when they’re good at something.
~ Stephen R. Covey
We have the ability to make the world around us better, simply by noticing the good stuff and commenting on it.
Are there people in your circle of influence who need remedial classes in areas where you’re tempted to roll your eyes? Sure there are. However, it’s in our power to look past those weaknesses, and search out where that person has a strength.
No one is good at everything – but everyone is good at something! I challenge you to notice a strength in someone and affirm them!
And if you’d like an extra “gold star”, notice something about yourself that you do well, and give yourself a pat on the back for it! Be nice to yourself, too!
Cheers!
Celebrate rising again as much as reaching the finish line.
Life holds many disappointments. Sometimes even failure. Few walk through their life without being touched by that sour twisting of loss, and being thrown down by circumstances… but then they get back up.
They rise again. And again.
“If you have made mistakes, even serious mistakes, you may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call “failure” is not the falling down, but the staying down.”
~ Mary Pickford, Canadian born actress 1892-1979
Getting back up needs to be noticed – it needs some celebration.
Are you standing up again… yet again? Or it might not be you, but maybe someone you love is rising again.
Rise again and gather those you love around to celebrate with you! Rising again may be even more important than reaching a finish line…
There’s a song by a Canadian folk-singer, Stan Rogers, that Rob and I love – it’s about a ship and maritime fishermen … however, the last stanza seems appropriate for this post.
And you to whom adversity has dealt the final blow
With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go
Turn to and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain
And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.
Rise again! Rise again!
Though your heart it be broken and life about to end
No matter what you’ve lost, be it a home, a love, a friend
Like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.Rise again… rise again…
~ last stanzas of Stan Roger’s song “The Mary Ellen Carter”
Stan Rogers – Canadian folk-singer 1949 – 1983
Enjoy the YouTube video below (click HERE if you can’t see the player.)
This is a section from a film on Stan Rogers where a fellow recounts being shipwrecked in a wicked storm, and how the song made the difference between him giving up or hanging on until the Coast Guard arrived to rescue him.
Then you’ll see Stan Rogers sing the song, “The Mary Ellen Carter” in concert at minute 1:40.
“Positive people help to remove or subdue stress,
improving your outlook and your health.”
~ Tom Corely quote
The above quote is from this post by Tom Corley. In his post, he’s talking about toxic people and then contrasts them with positive people. He suggests we surround ourselves with other positive people.
Tom’s post got me thinking… there are at least 8 ways positive people help other people’s outlook on life. (I’m guessing they’re more than eight… maybe you can add some.)
Rather than overwhelm you with all eight right now, the rest will come to you one every day for the next eight days. Little bites to consider.
There’s every chance that none of us will be good at all eight – even if we are pursuing positivity. No worries. Optimists always know there’s room for improvement.
Here we go:
1 – Positive People acknowledge the truth and manage the overflow.
There are some truly overwhelming events which cause ripples of anxiety, fear, pain and doubt in every life. Not every happening is good.
A positive person can see and determine the truth in these events while (eventually) putting a plan in place to handle each ripple.
These plans help other people’s outlook because everyone feels better when there’s a plan. A direction or plan adds a feeling of hope. Positive people find hope even in the worst circumstances.
If you can acknowledge the truth, make plans to manage the overflow and find hope… you might be a positive person!
What are the benefits of humility?
Humility is a state which helps us meet others where they are.
“Don’t criticize and speak evil about each other, dear brothers. If you do, you will be fighting against God’s law of loving one another, declaring it is wrong. But your job is not to decide whether this law is right or wrong, but to obey it.
Only He who made the law can rightly judge among us. He alone decides to save us or destroy. So what right do you have to judge or criticize others?”
TLB, James 4:11-12
Being humble doesn’t deny our own worth as a person,
rather it affirms the other person’s worth.
It’s like saying,
“Yes, friend – you go first.“
instead of
“Me first.”
Humility starts sentences with “you” instead of “I”.
It draws us closer together, instead of pulling us farther apart.
What could be some indicators of humbleness in action?
Consider C.S Lewis’ take on humility:
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
Working to be humble means you’re deliberately letting go of pride and all its pitfalls. It’s looking at yourself with a clear view – neither all good, nor all bad.
Letting go of pride quickly tunes us into the uniqueness of others, and allows us to celebrate the gifts of others.
Proverbs tells us that:
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.Proberbs 11:2 NIV
Ah – wisdom. That’s a benefit in every area of life. What if wisdom is as easy (or hard) as pursuing humility?
Knowing, of course, that as soon as we self-profess humility, then we’re not humble… <grin and wink>.
Give thanks for all the areas where you’re on the “inside”. Now, invite someone else inside also!
“On the inside.”
What does this term mean to you? It’s probably not about being indoor or outdoor… rather it’s a carry-over from our days in a school or institution.
When Rob and I stopped into a Christian bookstore, one book I leafed through was called, “We Saved You a Seat – Bible Study Book: Finding and Keeping Lasting Friendships” by Lisa-Jo Baker. One of the many statements that stood out to me was about being dissatisfied where we are…
“The thing we don’t realize in highschool, and sometimes we still haven’t learned during the mini-van driving years, is that everyone is on the outside of something.
But that is only half the story.
We are all, each one of us, also on the inside of something
— often without even realizing it.”
Think of the relationships you have with people.
Maybe if we stop comparing ourselves
in our perceived “in” or “out” spot,
and began giving thanks,
inviting and encouraging others to join us,
our lives would hold more joy…
Some of us might find making new friends easy. Some of us might feel daunted.
I’m guessing we might share some discouragement from the past – being or not being part of a group for !oh! so many reasons. Is it time to leave that discomfort behind?
We are all adults now.
And yet…
Being candid, that’s one reason I picked up the book from where today’s Positivity Prompt originates. Friendship amongst women has its ups and downs. It shouldn’t. But it does.
We all need to practice forgiveness, overlooking hurts, and serving each other.
And where some believe this topic is only for teens, consider again. If you’ve ever moved to a new city/state and began forging friendships anew, you might be revisiting some of the issues you felt when you were a teen.
Friendship… making friends and feeling on the “inside/outside” can be difficult.
So be encouraging, and invite a new person into your “inside” friendships… start today!
And for whom will you give thanks that you’re already on the “inside”?
Time. Investing your time with a child can be the greatest act you do for your future. You won’t see the dividends now. The impact is seen much later.
Consider — who spent time with you as a child? What good memories do you have from that experience? Pass those memories on…
No matter how hard the day (or night), or how many times you’ve put together that Duplo/Lego, or cleaned up after an old-fashioned board-game, your time is worthwhile when it’s invested in your child. Even a few minutes are good for that child. The minutes add up to hours… and hours together are a great investment.
The memories you’re making together are never wasted. It might feel futile now, but it’s not. Really.
Your kindness has an impact. It’s more than just that act, it’s a seed for something greater.
Perhaps you’ll never see how your act of kindness changes the world around you, but I believe we sow seeds with our kindnesses from which gratitude will grow. Sometimes those seeds will languish, and do nothing. But there will be times where those seeds will grow into a blossom of gratitude.
If you see value in a being thankful, then create an environment where others will have specific reasons to feel thankful themselves.
Your generous kindness
creates the environment
for gratitude to blossom in others.
Do you need ideas on practical acts of kindness? Here are 25 ideas on how to be kind for no reason.
Now, imagine your world filled with thankful human beings. You can make it happen. It starts with your kindnesses – random and simple or deliberate and complex.
When you are kind you are building a more beautiful space. And that is something to be thankful for… yes?
Maybe these aren’t the usual words that would come to mind when you want to introduce and influence a change… and yet – wisdom tells us that if our attitude includes these attributes, we will see success.
Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.~ Proverbs 25:15 MSG
Be patient in prayer.
Believe God can make a way. (Catch that? GOD makes the way, not us.)
If you’re dealing with your spouse, with a co-worker or boss, if you’re trying, yet again, with in-laws or parents, siblings or children, remain patient, yet persistent.
Let your voice and words be gentle.
Gentleness is one of the strongest values – part of the definition of “gentleness” as a value is “strength under control”. This post about gentleness in marriage is one of the most read where I write about marriage. You will differentiate yourself in every encounter if you are gentle. Just try catching a toddler’s attention – where shouting might not work, a whisper will intrigue a mass of mischievous energy. Whispering words into a teen’s ear will make a greater impact than shouting your statements of fact through a closed door.
Are you facing relationships filled with indifference or rigid defenses?
Try persistent patience and gentleness if you want to see a change for the positive.
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
Reach out to them today – say “thank you”.
