Surround Yourself with Positive People

Good morning and happy Monday! I hope your weekend was wonderful. Coming home from the beach is never fun but necessary at some point I guess ;-).

I returned yesterday from the perfect beach weekend getaway. Continuous fun especially  since the theme for the weekend from the mouth of the bride was “do what ya feel.” A pretty awesome bride to say the least.

We enjoyed dinners out, dinners at home, long days on the beach, lots of laughter, lots of fun and very little stress, just as the bride wanted. It was absolutely great.

After coming home yesterday, I spent a little time thinking about what I wanted to talk/write about today. I thought maybe a Meatless Monday post would suffice but then I decided there was something more than a recipe that I wanted to share.

Throughout the past seven years, Dustin has been the preacher and my rock when it comes to the power of positive thinking. I mentioned to you a while ago that he read and then encouraged me to read The Secret, and if you ask him (and I certainly believe it), it truly changed his life. It took him from questioning why baseball didn’t work out to understanding that baseball didn’t work out for a reason. It took him from doubting to believing, regardless of the topic.

On that same note, this weekend I spent a lot of time thinking about the power of surrounding yourself with positive people – people that lift you up, make you happy and bring out the best it you.

Yesterday, as my sister-in-law and I were were driving home, we listened to our live church sermon and our pastor was talking specifically about leadership. He said that in order to be a good leader and lead like Jesus did then the people that you are leading have to know that you have their back – that you care about them like you want them to care about you. I think the same is true in all walks and relationships of life.  There is nothing greater than surrounding yourself with someone that brings out the best in you – someone that brings your gifts to light, challenges your weaknesses and encourages you to be the best you. By being the type of person that always lifts others up, the act will be contagious- those that we encourage will respond in a similar way. Like attracts like, remember? They too will encourage you.

So often we allow worldly things to get in our way of loving, treating and lifting up others the way we should – jealously, envy, entitlement, etc. A few years ago I was reminded of something that really changed the the way that I loved and respected people. I was reminded that there is enough of everything to go around. There is enough success, enough beauty, enough happiness, enough joy, enough power, enough whatever it is that you are looking for everyone. Not one person is able to take it ALL. By lifting each other up and being the encouragement that someone needs we can not only help them be their best but also help us be our  best as well – we can change everyday, every moment, every life.

Today, I encourage you to do both. Not only surround yourself with people that lift you up and bring out the best in you but also be that for someone else. Bring out the best in them and they will do the same for you – glorify their talents, help them with their weaknesses and encourage them to their best them. We all love to feel our best, regardless of which arena of life, encourage someone and they will return the favor. It starts with you.

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Do you notice that the people that you lift up the most, lift you up the most? I certainly do.

Anyways, I hope you have a wonderful Monday! I am going to the airport to pick of the hubby from a weekend work trip to Seattle. So excited to see him!

Good health!

Tagged as: encouragement, jealousy, life, live, love, positive, positive people, the secret