Albert Einstein once said, "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Therefore, any true change in our lifestyle is preceded by a change in our thinking! Different choices produce different results! In order to make different choices, we must introduce new information into our decision making process. As we seek to positively activate our power of choice we must ask ourselves two questions: How does new information enter my life? How can I determine if the information I'm receiving is "good" information?
Knowledge comes to us through books, education, television and most importantly through our relationships. More specifically, friendships are one of the primary sources of knowledge in our lives. A friend is anyone we've chosen to open up our hearts and lives to in our journey of personal development. Because of our vulnerability to them, friends have the power to influence our thinking. When we call someone friend, it implies that we trust them. We turn to our friends when the chips are down and we are in need of advice and guidance. We trust them to give us counsel that will bring wisdom and insight into the confusing and dark areas of our lives.
Therefore, it is critical that you be selective in your choice of friends. Relationships should not be formed strictly on the basis of emotion and comfort. Challenge yourself to form friendships with people who share the same values, but have different perspectives. If all of your friends think and act just like you do, then how can they contribute to your growth and development? Remember, it is in the multitude of counsel that wise decisions are made.
My godfather often says, "If you have nine broke friends, you're bound to be the tenth one." Why? Because friends are constantly withdrawing from or depositing into our lives. They influence and affect our behavior. Friendships and relationships are pivotal to our personal development and spiritual growth because they provide us with a sense of belonging and acceptance. In the safety of friendship, we grapple with our issues and the difficult situations of life. Real friendship is a place of comfort that challenges you toward growth!
How do you spell wisdom?
Everyone is capable of bringing wisdom to some area of life. Your job is to understand your friends' strong points and weaknesses so that when you need advice in certain areas, you know exactly where to turn. To determine whether or not your friend is wise in a certain area, simply evaluate the fruit their actions have produced in their lives. Are they successful in the area you need help? Would you really like to have what they have? You don't take your car to the veterinarian when it needs a tune-up because you know that isn't their area of expertise. If you are dealing with marital challenges, you must be mindful of the weight you give advice from your twice-divorced friend. Their experience in relationships might not necessarily translate into practical wisdom for you. Knowing your friends and evaluating the quality of their lives and counsel will help you to determine how much of your peace you are willing to place in their minds and mouths!
Journaling exercises:
List five of your closest friends and evaluate their different strengths. Have you properly utilized the value of their wisdom in your life?
What three friendships do you have that might possibly be influencing you in negative ways?
Encouragement CoachTM Felicia T. Scott is the author of Thrive! 7 Strategies for Extraordinary Living. Scott speaks to audiences across the country about personal development, emotional/spiritual health and journaling. To order Thrive! or receive a free copy of Extraordinary LivingTM, her monthly newsletter, please visit www.feliciascott.com.
Article copyright REAL TIMES Inc.
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