Saturday, April 12, 2014

Believe.

In one of our staff meetings, our boss had us write down "Believe Statements".
What they are are basically exactly what it says; you write things you believe in.
Ironically, I've done something similar like this before, so I was familiar with the concept.
My boss had picked us each out separate, page long statement that he thought would relate to us.
The statement I was given fit me pretty well.
The overall statement said this:

“So I believe in treating strangers like family. I believe in making people feel comfortable. No one should have to feel isolated or alone when they walk into a room full of strangers, and in New Orleans, no one does.”

Granted, I'm a Texas gal and everything applied, except the New Orleans part.
I feel like if we don't treat people kindly, that it reflects us badly and makes them feel rejected or that something is wrong with them.
This statement also falls under one of my strengths: Includer.
What that means is to stretch the circle wider so everyone can be included.
Seeing the sight of someone being left out hurts me and I try my absolute best to include as many people as possible.
We are all equally important and no one should be ignored.
Each of us should be included because it is the least we all deserve.

After we finished reading ours, he had us write a believe statement of our own.
At first, I had ask myself what I believed.
I mean, I know what I believe, but describing it is quite difficult.

So this is what I wrote for my 'first' believe statement:

"I believe in grace. I believe in having faith. Not only in Christ, but in myself. I believe that hardship, struggle, and pain make us who we are. We’re all different and that, I’m thankful for. Psalm 139:14, my favorite verse, explains each of us perfectly. I believe that if you have faith in (both God and) yourself, that things are going to be just fine. Just because you’re give a bad hand doesn’t been you’re going to lose. By believing in grace, we are given many days to show love to others. I believe in love. Love for yourself and for others. If you can’t bring yourself to love yourself, you can’t fully love others. I believe in love, grace, faith, God, others, and myself. I believe in happiness. Happiness is earned, not bought. I believe in these because it helps shape us into we are meant to be. We are lovely and we are loved."

I could definitely expand on this, but I think this is a good start.