If we really want to grow – we cannot be moved by:

Compliments or Complaints

Be aware of them to an extent, fold in what’s needed to improve, but bottomline

keep it pushin’. There is a thin line between love and hate; people flip flop between them on the regular.

I’ve done it. You’ve done it. We’ve all done it.

Reflect on the work of your hands by asking questions like:

Are am I pleased with my work? How have I helped others? Is God pleased with my work?

People come and go. God and yourself – are permanent and steady through your life thread.

So these human feedback loops should be weighted accordingly.

One of my son’s displayed this beautifully earlier in the year.

This spring, my son (King Elijah) delivered a monologue at an event. When he finished he was receiving compliments – it’s like it didn’t matter to him. At one point, I was like “Did you hear them?”. I wanted him to at least say, “Thank you.” – to not come off as rude. He wasn’t intending to be rude, but had moved on mentally. Almost like their compliments were cataloged as “mhm yea, noise”.

Now, although his lack of acknowledgement may come across as rude – this dude is on to something. He is unmoved and locked in on delivering his skill/talent and then onto the next thing. He wasn’t doing it for praise or hate. He was locked in on serving to the best of his ability – which is an internal endeavor.

What if we gave ourselves the gift of not requiring external validation?

We’d keep chopping away like a lumberjack not bothered with frivolous click bait chit-chat.

Growth and creativity would be treated like a ever unfolding marathon not a sprint for applause! We’d be unselfishly serving from our spirit, not out of ego – which requires being idolized by “I made it” status – oops, I mean “metrics”.

I’ll never forget when I started writing publicly God challenged me with “Would you do this without comments?” – something along those lines. I responded yes and have surely been put to the test. Oh, it has hurt me soooo good.

That means not obsessing over likes, comments, views, reviews; etc.

I’d have I’m over it fits then get right back to it – writing and sharing. I’ve been chizzled inwardly as I’ve chopped away at creating.

Do you know this pain?

If we let God have his way we will be free from chasing like much of humanity.

Compliments and complaints come in as feedback data point – not to fill or empty us.

Intrinsic value over extrinsic reward.

We’re whole regardless, not piece mealing from crumbling compliments or complaints.

The work is the perk!

Purpose doesn’t require applause.

Go in nature. Do they stop and start because of you?

More is detailed in this video on Lonisa Mari.com.

– Lonisa