Influence

I talked with two different people about why they do the things that they do. Both of them are trying to live lives divided. Both of them are trying to search for an identity to commit to. . . .

It's challenging when I think about Influence. So many people want to influence others. There is a sense of accomplishment when we can think that we are responsible for a change in someone else's life. A sense of authority, strength, dominion can often drive us to try to influence and I ask myself Why; why do we desire to do this? Are we afraid to look into our own lives? Is the sense of pride just too great that we gain from influence? Are we too scared to look at our own mistakes that we prefer to find those in others and talk about them?

Needless to say, I agree that influence is a good thing and a huge part of life. What has been intriguing me is the manner in which we do it. As I talked two these two young men I was caught in thought while I had a longing for them to experience real freedom of knowing their true identity. True freedom of not living a conflicted fight of desires. Yet, how will these men be influenced best? My first inclination was to begin to try to influence them manipulatively, persuasively, directly, with questions, passively, unknowingly and basically any other way possible. However, with some luck and a slight pause before acting, I just listened.

As my thoughts began to focus I began to realize something powerful about influence in others. People are really struggling and they are not looking for someone to step in and tell them something different. People want others to listen to them and truly come along side them through life's successes & trials. How interesting it looks when people truly try to influence others not by doing what they think will help themself, but by truly looking at their life through the other persons lens and fully trying to understand the angle that life hits them.