Our Circle Of Influence

Everyone has a circle of influence. There are people who are your friends, your family, your co-workers, neighbors, fellow church members, etc. who listen to your opinions. I have never yet met someone that has zero influence on others.

So the question is not if we have any influence, but what kind of influence do we have? Are we influencing people to help them better their lives and the lives of others? Or are we a negative influence, a weight that is holding people back or pulling them down?

You know the kind of person I am referring to. There are people in our lives that want to drag us back to "reality." They discourage us from dreaming of what could be. They pigeon-hole us into categories with expectations of failure based on their categorizations. I hope and pray that you aren't one of those people! Or are you? Someone is, because we all know people like that.

Do you feel compelled to point out the mistakes of others? Are you the one who is constantly "setting the record straight?" Do you enjoy playing the role of "devil's advocate?" If so, you might be a negative influencer. Is that really the type of influence you would like? If these questions hit a little too close to home, ask someone you trust and who will be honest with you if you have a tendency towards the negative side.

While the world needs the occasional devil's advocate, it shouldn't be our only role in life. It is far better to be the type of person who is a positive influence on the lives of others. This person will have no shortage of friends. This person will be sought after for advice. This person exalts in seeing others grow and succeed!

A positive influencer will help people overcome barriers instead of erecting barriers. A positive influencer will help guide others to success instead of sabotaging their efforts. A positive influencer will encourage others to reach new heights instead of raining on their parade.

Sometimes we get jealous of others who are able to influence the power brokers in our world. We wish we could have the position and the power they seem to have. Rather than being jealous of others, take a look around you. Who can you influence in a positive way? I believe that when we become a positive influence on those around us, our circle of influence will continue to enlarge. As our circle of influence grows, we might be surprised to find who is listening.