Relating Well is Intentional

Just when I don’t have my camera, the sky is aglow with beauty. Tonight was no exception. Across a clear blue sky was a soft pink ribbon of cloud illuminated by the sun. It’s effect was to cast a pink glow over the water, blending landscape and water into a beautiful hue. If only I could capture the moment! It reminds me of so many times when we share a beautiful moment with family and friends. We wish we could capture it, savor it for the future, but apart from our memories, it is usually lost. But aren’t you thankful for memories, and for the desire to hold on to those memories that are rich. These are some of the things that encourage us to work on our more troublesome relationships so our memories will grow more precious and abundant.

Unless we are intentional about working on our relationships, they usually get side-lined and don’t receive the attention they deserve. When all is beautiful, we fail to take the picture, holding it in our hearts, allowing it to inspire us to better relating. Instead, we wait until a storm-cloud appears on the horizon. By then it takes a lot of fixing.

Tomorrow, the weather forecast says windy and cold. I’m glad I have the memory of today to hold in my memory. It just might help me over the disappointment of another dismal day.

Personality Glitches You Don’t Want To Encounter

Aren’t people wonderful? Well, sometimes, but then again, sometimes not. Sometimes fear, or a need for control, or insecurity or even a scarcity mentality drives people into what I refer to as their Type “squared” – ie. accentuated in the negative.

During times of economic downturns such as we’re experiencing today, we see people hanging on more tightly to their cherished belongings, jobs, prestige, power, or whatever else… claiming their space with elbows rotating outward. This isn’t a pretty sight, and it goes against so much of what I believe and teach.

These are times when we see people hoarding resources, information, and working to rule. I know the temptation!

But this is also a time when we have to reach out to one another with abundance, believing that it will be returned to us, as the principle states. It is a time when collaboration and cooperation and the blending of ideas can make a positive difference, drawing us out of isolation and into creative solutions.

Each Personality Type chooses to respond from faith (abundance) or fear (scarcity). The faith expression of an Artisan (SP) freely serves in stylish abandon in actions that speak louder than words, but the fear expression can become nasty and vindictive. The Legalist (SJ) when faith motivated is a willing and careful servant seeking to serve with accuracy and good will. However, when fear or scarcity, or a lack of appreciation gets a grip on them, they become quite rigid,legalistic and unbending. The Idealist (NF), generally giving encouragement and emotional support with abandon, when pressed into a corner becomes emotionally immobilized and insincere, and the Rational (NT) who is aces at strategy, critical thinking and visionary imagination becomes log-jammed in their thinking.

In short, we all become ineffective when stressed, and are less than wonderful to be around. While faith keeps us expansive and open, a retreat into fear closes us off in ways that make us less than effective, and certainly not wonderful companions.

Listening to the nay-sayers of our present economic condition may seem realistic enough, but we must be careful not to allow their predictions to overwhelm us.

As people, we are resilient. We have a tremendous capacity for creativity arising from need. We are not alone in this universe. The One who has provided seed for the sower in the past is yet providing it still. We may have to adjust our lifestyles, our attitudes, our expectations and our ingenuity, but if we will maintain an eye of faith and band together, we will succeed.

If we work to put the strengths of our Personalities together, we can overcome our weaknesses.

Yes, there are some Personality glitches I don’t care to encounter. They are the cat’s claws that come out when we allow the stress of fear to dominate the beauty of our natural strengths. But there are also beautiful Personality expressions from every Type that enrich and add abundance to our lives, even in more difficult times.

My vote is for the beautiful people who believe in and live in personal abundance, even when the coffers are low. With their help, I will continue to endure.