Finding Your Tribe

These days, with social media exploding more and more, people are much more “vocal” with their comments on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  So many people love to tear others down and can be very cruel and mean, and others can be very empowering with their comments, and all of these do nothing but play into our ego.  We just place WAY too much weight in other peoples’ opinions and other peoples’ opinions ARE NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!

    These moments are the character building moments, the ones where we have to pick empathy and grace and remind ourselves that it is much more important to be kind than to be popular and about how to tell the difference from those people who are truly your “tribe” , and those who will only tear you down.

    These are hard lessons for a kid for sure, but if we are being honest, they are hard lessons for us as adults too.  “Mean” people exist at every age in every social setting we encounter, whether it be people at work, people at church, or people at your kids school or your neighbors.  

    WE have all experienced it and it hurts...ALOT!! Finding our tribe is not always so easy.  So what do we do? How do we guard our hearts without becoming jaded?

    There are a few things that I remind others of, and things I have to remind myself sometimes too.  They might just help you, or your kids, as well:

    1.    ALWAYS BE KIND
        It is always easy to assume the worst about others, especially when we are feeling hurt or vulnerable.  But the truth is that most people are struggling with something, even if we cannot see it. A little kindness goes a long, long way.  My husband always says, “You should always assume positive intent”.

    2.    ALWAYS SHOW GRACE
        When others hurt us or let us down, often the last thing we feel like doing is “turning the other cheek”, like the Bible teaches us to do.  Just remember that undeserved grace is a powerful healer, not only for the person receiving it, but also for the person giving it too.

    3.    STAND UP FOR WHAT”S RIGHT/FIGHT FOR THE UNDERDOG
        Watch for the person who is being left out or mistreated, or simply is feeling insecure or inferior.  Be the one who stands up for what’s right, even when no one else will. When you watch out for others, you take your eyes off yourself and forget to worry about being hurt.

    4.    FIND YOUR TRIBE
        Actively seek out people that make you the best version of you.  Find the people who encourage you and lift you up, who challenge and push you to be better, and cheer you on.  Those are the kind of people you need in your life, not the ones who only tear others down.  

    Remember, we do not have to let the “haters” win!!  Our challenge for you this week is to beat them at their own game.  Actively choose to be kind over being petty, and choose grace over bitterness.  Be brave enough to stand up for the underdog instead of going with the crowd. And then, find and identify your tribe.  Seek out those who will lift you up and make you better. Be the friend you always wanted and you might just be amazed at the results!!

    Live with purpose and remember,  you only have one, so ROCK THIS LIFE NOW!!!!

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