It is so easy to 👍 something these days. Something once relegated to social media feeds can now be found in text messaging and emails. Rather than reply to a text, we can simply “like” it. Most businesses use Microsoft’s Outlook for emails and you can now “like” an email. If you subscribe to blogs, you can “like” the story. YouTube videos, news articles, etc… You get the picture. 👍-ing is ubiquitous.
This makes me ponder, “What does it mean to like something?” It seems like (pun intended), liking is synonymous with agreement. In other words, when someone 👍’s something, they are signifying they agree. I’m guilty of this too. The inverse is also true. When I don’t agree with something, I most certainly don’t 👍 it.
I would argue that this behavior is neither helpful, constructive, nor healthy for the future of discourse in American society. In fact, it may have already resulted in a state of disrepair. One has to wonder if we can recover. The optimist in me says, “Yes, we can.”
However, the solution is a function of humanity’s ability to reconcile relationally with one another. In this context, reconciliation means to accept something that is disagreeable or unwelcome. In the most basic of things, it means we have to be able to like each other when there is disagreement. The key question is, “Can we disagree with someone else and still like them? Or perhaps better stated, “Are YOU able to be likable no matter the circumstance?”
Likability is not your personality. It’s your character. It’s the fruit your spirit produces, and that fruit is your resulting behaviors. Likability is possessing attractive attitudes, which are a function of choices you make, and relational skills that cause others to want to associate with you.
So Mr. and Ms. Optimist, how can we do this? The answer is Moving 1% Forward every day. We can all work in small ways to accomplish great things.
Move 1% Forward to Likability
Here’s a simple, transformative question to ask daily: How will I move 1% forward today to become a likable person?
1% better. 1% smarter. 1% kinder. 1% happier. 1% more empathetic. 1% more compassionate. 1% more loving. 1% more patient. 1% more peaceful. 1% more gentle. 1% more faithful. 1% more in control of my emotions.
Be aware and be intentional. Talk to yourself and then do.
1% over time really adds up. Before you know it, you’ll be a different person. And you won’t recognize your old self.
Here’s another way to look at it. To accomplish something significant, what’s more palatable?
- Do 100% in 1 day?
- Do 1% in 100 days?
Both get the same result, however, #2 is much more attractive. You can approach life with that simple game plan. God gives us strength only as we start doing. He will be with us every 1% step of the way. He works in small ways to accomplish great things.
Therefore, let us not look coldly at a “neighbor” who has just said or done something we don’t agree with. Let’s focus on our likeability, not theirs. We can only control ourselves, not them. Focus on YOUR self-control. To be likable, learn to like others even when they are unlikeable, especially when you disagree with them.
As we find the courage to start, we then find the strength. God works His strength within us only as we start working. That’s real encouragement.
We can accomplish extraordinary things 1 day, 1% at a time.
MindWolves 