Which are you?
- Apr 4, 2018
- 3 min read
There are 2 types of people in the world. I mean obviously there are more ways to categorize people but today I'm going to focus on these two categories; those who help people succeed and those that hurt peoples' success.
The type of people who help others succeed are encouragers. Those who go out of their way to help other's be the best and do their best. Those who others like to be around and those who like to be around others. They are the type of people that see you for more than you currently are. They see potential and growth AND they see you as the here and now. They accept you with your flaws while still encouraging you to reach, stretch, and grow. They love you and they love on you.
And then there are the type of people who do not help others to succeed--the discouragers. Those who try to actually hinder others' success and instead of encouraging and supporting, they discourage, make things difficult, and have a limited view of who you currently are and who you will become. They focus on the flaws. They get hung up on their own issues and then view you through that lens. They are the people who demand respect based on their relative position to you but do nothing to earn it or maintain it.
I have interacted with both types of these people whether it has been with family, friends, relatives, professors, teachers, mentors, and church leaders. I have at times been both of these people--let's face it we all have. Some people have had such a profound impact on my being in such a positive way (thanks Mom and Dad, Mason, Caleb, Liz, Mama D, Tara Farmer, the Schuhly Family, Alex Gilbert, Zachary Vincent, Mr. G, and Dr. Ayers...). You are the people that I will always remember fondly and treasure for seeing who I am now and for motivating me for who I can become.
Then there are those that don't motivate me but without them knowing it they are pushing me to become a better version of me. Sometimes those who are negative can have a profound impact on who you will become as well BUT they do not have as much fun in life doing it.They motivate you by showing you what you don't want to become rather than encouraging you for what you can become.
We are all dominantly one or the other--joyful or critical; an encourager or discourager. Which one are you?
Do you want to be someone who supports and encourages people to become their best, or someone who discourages and hurts others' success? The question should be easy... you should want to be the former, not the latter.
But we have to be honest with ourselves and sometimes that's a little hard... we may want to be someone who is an encourager and someone who helps others succeed, but that may not be who we are. We have to make sure we are legitimate in our actions and opinions of ourselves. Make sure we're judging whether we are an encourager or discourager by the state of our heart, not on what we post on social media and who we sometimes pretend to be.
"Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Philippians 2:4
Look to the interests of others. Be someone who helps make other’s dreams and interests a success. Don't hinder and hurt others. That is not being the hands and feet of Jesus. God calls us to be lights for Him; to be people who support and encourage others; to be people who don't point out others' flaws and instead, help them to be the best version of themselves. God calls us to action--to actively love one another. That is who God calls us to be... people who support and encourage each other rather than tearing eachother down.
Today be an encourager, a joy, be the hands and feet of Jesus. Love others for where they are and for their future potential rather than their flaws and sinfulness. If we did this, the world could be a much happier place.
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