Have you truly wanted to help people succeed in life? If so, then it’s vital that you grow in wisdom, influence, and favor with others. Realizing the information overload and possible stress it would put on someone to master these three areas of life, it would be more beneficial to concentrate on some foundational attributes found that would cover wisdom, influence, and favor.
The first of the three is encouragement. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English defines encouragement as, “the act of encouraging; incitement to action or practice”. It’s all about helping others by inspiring them to be courageous, or motivating them to have a positive attitude, and or outlook. To be uplifting and renew their hope.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “With a new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” Joe Paterno encouraged others when he said, “Believe deep down in your heat that you’re destined to do great things.” But probably one of the greatest quotes about encouraging others was what Cory Muscara said, “When we are fulfilled, we radiate energy toward others. When we are empty, we pull energy from others. Fill yourself up and let it pour over.” In these three quotes we find wisdom, influence, and favor.
Next, strengthening those who are weak is another foundational attribute. We all have had times of needing to be strengthened in our daily lives, whether it is physically, spiritually, emotionally, or financially. What about times the responsibilities of life just wear us down, like family, work, and relationships. When you come along side someone you will increase their strength. Lao Tzu believed that love was the greatest strengthener for both the giver and receiver when he said, “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” And James Keller said, “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” These two quotes show that giving a little of our strength for someone else will go far in our influence and favor with others, not to mention the wisdom seen in those simple actions.
The final foundational attribute has to do with our words. Words carry life and death, for the Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21, English Standard Version). Wisdom, influence, and favor understand the importance of words, words of life and not death. What we say to ourselves, and others really does matter. If you want to truly help others, then speak words of life to them. Rachel Wochin said, “Be mindful when it comes to your words. A string of some that don’t mean much to you, may stick with someone else for a lifetime.” And remember, “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45, the Bible).
In helping others remember these attributes and those you help will see you as wise, a person of influence, and favored by others.