Intentional Relationships

Intentional relationships spring up from intentional investments. It’s about having fun, making friends, and then finding ways to be relentlessly helpful for and with those friends.

“But how are we supposed to make money from this?”

Who cares? First of all, and I’ve mentioned this before, it is illegal to make money. 

Second of all, when you put money first, then money takes a firm position on the throne of your life. 

You can’t serve two masters – you will love one and hate the other.

Back to the whole relationship focus. It’s time to stop thinking about the profits and to focus on the people.

#QuoteoftheDay

Shift to a people focus
from a profit focus
and you will be positioned
to change the world.
– Kathryn Lang

It’s all about relationships. Everything worth doing, worth having, and worth being is rooted in relationships. 

EVERYTHING.

Bolder Through Relationships

The other day, I started to skip out on a monthly meet-up. I had already skipped out on church, our mid-week study group, and who knows what else. My heart wasn’t in it. I had every intention of not attending.

But I did.

And in that group, I shared something that had been on my heart for a while. A BIG DREAM goal so scary that I had not fully shared any of it with anyone. I’d never even written it down. But, I made it to that group, and in a group of people who genuinely cared about me, I shared.

Because there were people who cheered me on, I felt bold.

Because there were people who shared my beliefs, I felt empowered.

Because there were people who believed I could, I knew I could.

Relationships give us the power to do things we could never do on our own.

Choosing the Right Relationships

But like so many things, relationships have the power for our good . . . or the power for our bad.

In 1 Kings 12, we read about a new, young king who steps into power and is approached by his people. “We’ll follow you if you just pull back from all the horrible things your dad was doing.” He then takes their request to his wise men and they tell him it’s a good plan. He takes the same request to his friends, and they tell him it’s a bad idea.

Guess who he followed.

When it comes to building your best life, it’s important to have the right people around you.

Are their beliefs aligned with yours?

Are they ahead of you in the journey?

Are they invested in learning and growing?

Are they putting others first?

Just because you’ve known them all of your life or because you graduated in the same class doesn’t mean they are the ones you need to listen to and hang around. Get invested in relationships that grow you to your next level.

Investing in Intentional Relationships

Growing up intentional relationships requires connecting, sharing, nurturing, and caring WITHOUT an expectation of return. It’s not about what you can get, but making the effort to give.

Be on the lookout

You’ll find what you are looking for. If you are looking for a chance to invest in others then you will find those chances.

Be prepared to give

Start your day with an expectation to give to others. When you begin with the idea of taking intentional action then you will find what you need to take that action.

Be willing to let go

Let go of the need to get something back for your investment. When you release them then you make room for them to do what they need to do instead of what you expect.

Be daring enough to ask

Intentionally ask others to spend time with you. Ask to meet up. Ask to host a gathering. Keep asking until you are able to create foundations for relationships that will fuel your possibilities (and theirs).

Be focused on you

Keep your mind focused on what you can do – be a friend, share, have fun, and be relentlessly helpful. The more you practice doing what you can do the less you will wonder about or worry over what you can’t (or what they don’t).

It truly is all about relationships. We are designed to be in relationships. Relationships won’t happen to your or for you, they will always happen with you. When you push past the profit motive, you have to find your ways to be invested in intentional relationships.

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Where is your priority – people or profit?

Please share your ideas and thoughts on how to shift from profit to people, and if you would like to read more about how I’m finding my way to a people focus, ask me for today’s post link!