Life-Givers: How to Make a Positive Impact Daily

So, today's topic is bad news. It is difficult to find good news anywhere these days. I went to Breakfast Club this morning and everyone wanted to talk about bad news—what a way to start your day! How do we deal with all this bad news?

This was the topic that was given to me by the organization that I just did a keynote speech for.

Have you ever been around someone who sucks the energy right out of you? Maybe they can’t stop talking about themselves. Or they are not shy about sharing their negative opinions to anyone who will listen. It is hard to be around a person like that because they seem to draw oxygen right out of the room. I would call them life-takers. Do you know any? Hopefully you are not one of them. But If you are, there is another way.

The media proclaims bad news for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A steady diet of their fare will sicken you. Instead of focusing on the fickle ever-changing divisive news broadcasts, tune into God—the one who is always the same. Let Scripture saturate your mind and heart and you will walk steadily along the path of life.

Walk with God in holy trust responding to his initiatives rather than trying to make things and circumstances fit your plan. Set yourself free from compulsive planning. When your mind spins with a multitude of thoughts, you cannot hear God’s voice. Because a mind preoccupied with planning pays homage to the idol of control. Rather, listen to God and live abundantly.

We should actually welcome problems because problems are perspective lifters. Many people today are sleepwalking through their days until they bump into the obstacle that completely stymies them.

If we encounter an obstacle with no immediate solution or response, that situation will take us either up or down. We can lash out at the difficulty, resenting it or perhaps feeling sorry for ourselves. But this just takes us down into a pit of depression or self-pity.

Alternatively, the problem can be a ladder, enabling us to climb up and see our life from a new perspective. Viewed from that different perspective the obstacle that frustrated us is only a momentary trouble. And once our perspective has been heightened, we can look away from the problem all together.

If we gaze too long at our circumstances, we will become dizzy and confused. I know a guy who dances in the Toronto Ballet. He has to keep his eyes on a given point to maintain his balance while spinning. It is just like life circumstances are in flux and the world seems to be whirling around us. The only way for us to keep our balance is to fix our eyes on God.

As we look into the day that stretches out before us we see many choice points along the way. The myriad of choices that are present only serve to confuse us. We need to draw our minds back to the threshold of the day where God is present, standing beside us, preparing us for the day. We must make our choices one at a time since each is contingent upon the decision that precedes it. This means that instead of making a mental map of our path through each day, we should focus on God’s presence. He will equip us to go so that we can handle whatever comes our way. We should trust God to supply what we need when we need it.

When some basic need is lacking like time or energy or even money, we should consider ourselves blessed. When we begin each new day with inadequate resources of any kind we must concentrate our efforts on the present moment. This is where we were meant to live —in the present. It is a place that always awaits us. Awareness of our inadequacy is a rich blessing training us to live wholeheartedly relying on God. The truth is that self-sufficiency is a myth perpetrated by pride and temporary success.

There is no randomness about our lives. The here and now comprises the components of our daily life. And most people let those moments slip through their fingers half lived. They avoid the present by worrying about the future or lamenting the past. Or longing for a better time or place. They forget about God who walks with us in the present.

I have found that as we give ourselves more and more to a life of constant communication with God, we find that we simply have no time to worry or lament. This forces us to let God direct our steps, enabling us to walk our journey in peace.

But there are the other people in this world—the life-givers. Their speech and actions are full of life, hope and optimism. They genuinely care and it shows. Just being around them makes you a better person and it is just a joy to be around them.

When we refocus as I have outlined above, every opportunity we have with someone is an opportunity to influence that person for good. It is an opportunity to give life. Because whether we realize it or not, as leaders, people are watching us. What we say and how we act matters. When we live this way, we can live with purpose, make a difference and leave a lasting impact. Isn’t that what we want?