“You are very real.” “You sell yourself well.” “He comes across as being dishonest.”
Have you heard comments like that? Have you ever heard them said about you? If someone else were talking about you, what would they say? How would you know? Do you want to know?
One thing that often holds folks back in life is the great big blind spot they have concerning themselves. Do you understand how others see you?
We are selling ourselves all the time. We are speaking and acting or reacting. People are forming opinions from what they see and hear. You may not realize what you are selling.
If you post online status updates, or if you blog or keep a diary, I challenge you to go back and read the previous 10 posts. If that were all people could see and hear from you, what would they think?
What is the biggest topic? What was the overall mood and tone? Did you inspire or impress people? Would they want to hang out with you? Would they pity you?
Now, think about the last 5 or 10 conversations you have had face to face. Did you say positive or negative things? Did you tell secrets? Did you bad-mouth anyone?
We are all the time selling ourselves. What are you selling? Are people attracted to you? Do they run from you? Where does what you are selling originate?
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Luke 6:43-49
We all have good days. We all have bad days. What comes out of your mouth on a continual and ongoing basis is a reflection of what is in your heart. Would we find Jesus there?
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to take a look at what you are selling. Ask God to show you clearly what others see when they look at you. Take a look at those past conversations. Take a look at any diary, blog, or status updates. Be honest with yourself.