Practice Humility

When I don't practice patience, I can get judgmental. This is a great reminder for me. Life can push us forward all the time. Then, our thinking can become self-centered when we hurry. We start to see all the tasks we must do that are for other people rather than for us. Trying to meet deadlines for the boss. Trying to solve everyone’s questions. Hurrying to cook for our family. Hurrying to meet a need can make us nitpick or grumble because haste affects our capacity to be patient. I realize that when I'm in a rush, my attitude may become dismissive, my manner may seem frosty, or my involvement is less considerate. We've all experienced that. How can we still let God’s mercy shine through even when our patience is pushed?

By practicing humility!

Here are my top 5 things to practice!

1. Active listening is a crucial skill that involves paying full attention to what someone is saying, trying to understand their perspective, and responding in a way that shows that you have understood them. It is important to avoid interrupting the speaker and to ask clarifying questions if necessary. Active listening allows for effective communication and building strong relationships with others. It means spending time listening to others and taking in all the information without the desire to respond. This is a lesson that I am constantly striving to learn. I often find myself giving advice, but I wonder if that is always necessary. Can I simply be there to receive information, stay curious, and offer supportive advice instead of being directive? This is a work in progress for me.
2. It is important to cultivate the habit of mindfulness in your daily life. It is important to focus on the present moment. Yesterday, my family and I sat in our backyard by the firepit and watched a movie. Although there were many things I needed to do, I chose to take the time to be intentional about being present in the moment with my loved ones. I realized that it was important to enjoy this experience, which I wouldn't get by rushing.
3. Expressing gratitude: We often compare, but comparison steals joy. Practice gratitude instead.
4. Asking for Feedback: I often find myself in situations where I want to present the best version of myself, but sometimes fall short. This can be both rewarding and painful. Personal growth is a natural part of life, and receiving feedback is crucial to that growth. No one is born perfect except for God. Therefore, it's essential to have self-awareness and be open to learning how we come across to others. We should aim to receive feedback with an open mind and willingness to make revisions and improvements.
5. "Owning up to our mistakes is a sign of strength and integrity. Let's make it a habit to apologize for our own mistakes and work towards making things right. It's a small step that can make a big difference in our personal and professional relationships." It can be a challenge to own up to our mistakes, but it's also a growing opportunity that I seek often. I know it's not an easy task, and sometimes our pride can get in the way. But we are all human and we all make mistakes. Life is a journey, and learning from our mistakes is an important part of that journey. We shouldn't worry about what others think of us when we make a mistake. Even if you're the boss and people are waiting to catch you in the wrong, it's okay. That's their issue to deal with. We should remember that "boss" is just a title and not who we are in Christ. When we do make a mistake, the best thing to do is to apologize sincerely. It goes a long way towards making things right.