06/10/2021
Good Morning All,, This is really good. Sooo Worth the read.
“Emotional Intelligence” author Daniel Goleman once used the term "feeling tone" to describe the ultimate measure of communication.
Communication involves a sender and a receiver. If you are sending accurate content but the “feeling” is off, your message is compromised by the feeling you mixed into it. I have often sent the wrong message when in fact, I was simply not paying attention to the tone of my voice and physical expression at the moment I sent it.
Not to date me too much, but an associate of mine had a broken keyboard on his Blackberry, and the only way he could send a message was in CAPS! Before I understood his dilemma, I felt like I was being yelled at.
This kind of mixed messaging happens to us more than you think. Are there times when you have spoken to a family member or colleague with good intentions, but your “feeling tone” was in ALL CAPS? For this reason, “Self Awareness” is one of the fundamental skills of an emotionally intelligent person.
Let’s go one level deeper. Apart from the relationship you have with your Creator, what is the one relationship that matters most? It’s not your employer or pastor. It’s not even your parents, kids, or spouse. The most crucial relationship in your life is the one you have with YOURSELF!
How you FEEL about YOU is going to affect how you treat others. The way you respond to others is directly affected by your state of mind and how you feel about yourself.
Have you ever known someone that always seems to be putting others down or is always sarcastic, or never has anything nice to say? I have found in my experience that those people are insecure and have a low self-image. They are struggling with some self-imposed inadequacy, and they tend to speak negatively about others to make themselves look and feel better.
What’s the “feeling tone” you are having right now with yourself? Do you secretly beat yourself up because you are overweight, alone, not making more money? Do you feel stuck while others seem to be racing on with life on their terms? The relationship you have with you is the most priceless discovery a Christian can make. Why? Because most people are totally unaware that a relationship of self-to-self even exists!
Ever wonder why David talked to himself? He spoke to his soul like he was coaching a friend out of depression.
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” - Psalm 42:5
Most Christians do not know is that there is a new way of life that can deliver you from periods of self-loathing and self-hatred as you “bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” EVERY THOUGHT includes those that don’t agree with God’s estimate of you. It is those critical thoughts about yourself that you feed every day! You lost the right to beat yourself up when you gave your life to Christ.
Many Christians fall into an unintentional trap of negativity. They go through much of their life feeling unworthy. I am here to encourage you today with the Word of God that declares!
