BLESSED BY COMMUNITY
Coming together with others is such a Blessing.
Community is such a Blessing.
We are Better Together!
“I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love. I thank them for their patience and grace.” - Matt Lauer
I am a work in progress for sure, and need good people around me… and so do you!
For me, it starts with my morning routine. I start with the word of God, journaling, and then reach out to my family and community with encouragement. This gets my day started right.
“I am blessed to receive a word from God every day in receiving the scriptures and reading the scriptures. And God speaks through the Bible.” -Ted Cruz
Through His word I can bless others.
I am able to be a light in the world. God gives it, and we all need it.
I love to be able to inspire and encourage others daily. Lift them up.
One of the great blessings of community.
“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else!” - Booker T. Washington
Join the Pack -
It’s true, it really works.
Try it!
What you put out definitely comes back to you.
“Don’t just count your blessings. Be the blessing other people count on.” - Anonymous
Take action and be a blessing to others.
Giving will lift your spirits and help you to be a better person.
Max Lucado says, “Gratitude lifts our eyes off the things we lack so we might see the blessings we possess."
Focus on gratitude and the blessings of life. Focus on what you do have, like your incredible community. This will open your eyes to all the amazing things around you.
So today, count your blessings!
Name them one by one!
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around." -Willie Nelson
It can happen to you, but…
It’s up to you.
Why not… Live the Life You Choose!
Blessings.
Make a Connection
Your Life is Yours to Live... so Make Positive Choices, Learn to Connect, and Restore Balance to your Life!
We all feel isolated and disconnected at times. It is up to us to make a change, and we can, by choosing to break out of our comfort zone and Make a Connection! How we live is our choice and we need to fight through all the noise of life and the voices telling us we can’t and realize… WE CAN! IF WE CHOOSE TO! We have to break out of our comfort zone and Take Action.
There are 5 simple ways to make a connection.
#1 - Start (move forward)
#2 - Focus (be intentional)
#3 - Be Real and Be Friendly (Add Value to Others)
#4 - Be Present (Ask Questions and Listen)
#5 - Be Consistent (and Repeat)
START
The number one challenge people have with connecting and networking… is they don’t start. The first step is to get out of your Safe Place… your comfort zone… and Start.
We come up with great plans and then we have so many reasons not to start. We have to adopt a Do It Now attitude and push ahead… even if we don’t feel prepared.
Life will always get in the way one way or the other, but as the old saying goes, we have time for what we make time for!
FOCUS
You need to be laser-focused on your connection objective, and be intentional in your approach to connecting. If you want to meet a certain group of people, find out where they hang out. What groups, associations, or clubs do they belong to… and then join! Get out of your office and go where the people are! If you don’t know where to start, go to social media events and take a look!
The environment is everything in life, and when you put yourself in the right environment to succeed, you will.
BE REAL AND BE FRIENDLY
You have to be yourself and get to know people. Don’t try to be someone you’re not, people know when you’re genuine and authentic! Look to Add Value to others and Be Uplifting!
A connection all starts with a simple greeting, authentic intent, and then takes consistent contact and intentional development of a personal relationship. When you are truly connected and can call someone your friend, they will be motivated to be an advocate for you. After all… Friends help Friends!
People do life and business with people they Know, Like, and Trust! Taking someone from that initial contact to connecting with them happens by giving them an opportunity to really know you… and then they have to Like you! Usually, Likable people are Liked... and last is building their Trust! Trustworthy people are Trusted.
BE PRESENT
Be in the moment, and listen to others. Remember, everyone’s favorite subject is themselves. Don’t monopolize the conversation. Ask questions and then listen! As John Maxwell says… “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” When you show you care about them and what they say, they will want to hang around you more.
Most of us tend to get in a rush and hurry through life. Each moment is nonrefundable and precious. Intentionally focus on those around you, listening and learning!
BE CONSISTENT
One of the most important things in connection is to Be Consistent! Relationships are not one-and-done. You have to connect on a regular and consistent basis to develop a relationship. It takes time to get to really know someone. When you are Consistent, you allow time to form a true connection.
So many times we do too many things to stay consistent in one thing! Multitasking is a great myth… as it distracts us and divides our attention!
Conclusion
Connection is really a lifestyle. In order to go beyond just a contact, it takes work and purpose. Remember to Start, Focus, Be Real and Be Friendly, Be Present, and Be Consistent. Why do you want to connect? Why do you want to be their friend? Ultimately, that is the test. If you can truly answer those questions with your actions, you can gain true connection and true friendship. After all, friends are made with people that Know, Like, and Trust you!