Belongingness is the human, emotional need to be an accepted member of a group. As human beings, we have an inherent drive to belong and to be an important part of something greater than ourselves. Belongingness is far more than just being acquainted or familiar with something. We need to be a part of something in order to give and receive affection from others. The “Lone Ranger” mentality only results in loneliness, mental stress, anxiety and depression.

The sense of belonging is one of the greatest needs that we have. The church can meet this need in all of us, but not everyone is willing to allow himself to take advantage of it. Being a part of something bigger than ourselves is important to our overall health. God knew that we needed to be contributing members of a local church that is helping people get to know God better. If we serve others, we really connect to the church in a way that we take ownership of our belonging. As you serve, you will receive friendship. Most importantly, the Word of God will come alive to you and the sense of belonging will be fulfilled in you. Submit yourself to the Lord Jesus and become one that serves and is a part of something significant. Serving will fill a need which we all have. As a result of our belonging, we will be healthier: spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally.

Our attitude throughout life is everything. We need to recognize how important it really is in terms of how we see things, circumstances, our futures, hopes and dreams. Attitude is defined as a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something. Attitude is also typically reflected in a person’s behavior. It can be defined as a state of mind. It is intertwined with how one thinks and sees things in his life. You can have a positive attitude, a negative attitude, or an indifferent attitude. Those are your only choices. You can choose to see the bad in a situation, if you want to. You can choose to say and believe things like “Nothing ever works out for me. It doesn’t matter what I do; I will never get a break.” However, you can also choose to see the opportunities and the good that is before you. Either way you get to choose your attitude.

I have met some very sick people, who are dying, and they continue to believe for the best and see the good in their lives. On the other hand, I have seen very healthy people, who have the mindset that the sky is falling. Their attitudes are so negative and downtrodden. These individuals only see the negative and never the good.

The choice is yours. You get to choose what attitude you will possess. People that choose to have a good attitude seem to be much happier in life. Often, people like to be around people with good, positive attitudes. If you get to decide your own attitude, why not develop a positive one? If you look at two individuals with the same abilities and qualifications, and one is very successful and the other is not, often times the difference comes down to their attitude.

Just A Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

In life, there will always be things that we like and things that we do not. In our jobs, there will also be things that you enjoy about it and things that you don’t enjoy about it. No matter what you do, you will find that this is true. We tend to be constantly looking for perfection and have the belief that we are supposed to like everything. We should not be consumed by this search because we won’t always enjoy it all. When I worked at UPS, I didn’t like the job, but I did like the paycheck.

What should we do in situations where we do not have perfection? We need to persevere and sometimes we need to make ourselves do what we don’t like to do. Sometimes we need to endure so that we can succeed in life and be successful at our jobs. What is necessary is an attitude adjustment within ourselves in order to not focus on things that we do not like or what we think is wrong. If we do this, we can then focus on the bigger picture.

While working at UPS, I had to focus on that what they paid me, on providing for my family, and paying my bills. When we focus on what is immediately in front of us, we tend to lose our perspective on what is important. The lesson that we need to learn is that nothing is perfect. If we want to, we can always find fault. What we should focus on is looking at the big picture and the benefits instead of what is wrong with the situation. This mindset will help us and benefit us when we face imperfection.

Just A Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

“How do I get ahead, move forward, and receive that promotion?” This is a question that can often pass through one’s mind, but have you ever actually stopped to think about how that really happens? People today tend to want so much out of life and to continue to make more money. They look at others who have what they want and say things like, “I wish I were that lucky” or “I wish I could catch a break.” Some even wish that they knew the right people to get ahead. However, the truth is that most of the people who get ahead are working the hardest, complaining the least, and are willing to learn and adapt. They are the type of person that is committed to accomplishing their goals! This means that they work through setbacks; they do not take detours or look for shortcuts. They are willing to put in the work and deal with situations as they arise. They do not play the victim and say things like, “My boss doesn’t like me. Things aren’t fair.” People who get ahead do not have that mindset. They do not allow themselves to possess a victim mentality or learned helplessness. Instead they choose to work diligently, take responsibility, and are willing to learn new things. They realize that in order to do better in life, they must continue to work hard, work smart and be committed.

Just A Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

There is a difference between being a dreamer and those who have a dream. Dreamers tend to talk a lot, but have very little action towards their dream. Those that have a dream tend to talk very little about it, instead they work towards it. They do what is necessary to achieve their dreams. Talk is cheap, but action is life changing. In order to see our dreams come to fruition, you will have to sacrifice and be committed to achieving them. Dreams desired don’t come to pass because we will them to. Dreams come to pass because we are willing to do what it takes to accomplish them. Then we need to be patient. So many individuals never see their dreams and desires come to pass because they become impatient. They become discouraged. Then they give up on those dreams. We must be committed, sold out on our dreams, counting the cost, and never giving up on them, or quitting prematurely. When you have a real dream for your life, you will work through the tough times. If it is worth achieving, the setbacks won’t deter you. Keep the dream alive by reaching towards accomplishing it. No matter how long it takes, or how hard it is. When the desire (dream) comes to pass, it will be worth it.

Just A Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com