My behavior is backed by credible reasoning for whatever I am displaying. If I am happy and silly I have had a good day or some grand events that has given me reasons for my giddiness. If I am frustrated and impatient it is because my behavior is shaped by an event that has had disappointing results.
Micheal Hyatt made this statement about behavior in his blog:
"People create stories to explain our behavior. This is just human nature. We inherently try to see the patterns behind the facts and create meaning. Sometimes we get the story right; often we get it wrong. Regardless, we knit together the facts and create narratives to make sense of our world." (for the full article go to michealhyatt.com and search September 4, 2012 "Your Power As A Leader")
I hear people justify their behavior and get the story wrong. Most of the rest of the story follows a fairly predictible pattern. A teenager feels too restricted by his/her parents and they react to the restrictions which results in further restrictions. A spouse feels underappreciated in ther marriage and oversteps personal boundaries with an aquaintance of the opposite gender, which leads to an affair, which leads to a divorce and this leads to a failed relationship with the person they had an affair with.
There are less dramatic stories you and I tell ourselves to justify our behaviors.
Do you tell yourself, "I deserve another helping of dessert because of the stressful day I have had" or "It was right to cut that person off in traffic because I am in a hurry" or "They needed to be told bluntly because they would not get it otherwise"?
The following verse in the Bible tells those who follow Jesus that there is a new storyline resulting in a behavior based in love.
1 Peter 1:22-23
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
What story are you telling yourself?
Micheal Hyatt made this statement about behavior in his blog:
"People create stories to explain our behavior. This is just human nature. We inherently try to see the patterns behind the facts and create meaning. Sometimes we get the story right; often we get it wrong. Regardless, we knit together the facts and create narratives to make sense of our world." (for the full article go to michealhyatt.com and search September 4, 2012 "Your Power As A Leader")
I hear people justify their behavior and get the story wrong. Most of the rest of the story follows a fairly predictible pattern. A teenager feels too restricted by his/her parents and they react to the restrictions which results in further restrictions. A spouse feels underappreciated in ther marriage and oversteps personal boundaries with an aquaintance of the opposite gender, which leads to an affair, which leads to a divorce and this leads to a failed relationship with the person they had an affair with.
There are less dramatic stories you and I tell ourselves to justify our behaviors.
Do you tell yourself, "I deserve another helping of dessert because of the stressful day I have had" or "It was right to cut that person off in traffic because I am in a hurry" or "They needed to be told bluntly because they would not get it otherwise"?
The following verse in the Bible tells those who follow Jesus that there is a new storyline resulting in a behavior based in love.
1 Peter 1:22-23
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
What story are you telling yourself?
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