Title The Leading Man/Genesis 45:4-8
As we go through life, we are faced with difficult things. How do you deal with this? I hope you can learn the mindset of successful people by observing the attitude that Joseph showed in the process of being sold as a slave to a foreign country due to the hatred of his brothers and living as a slave before becoming a prisoner. Joseph sees that he does not react immediately to stimuli, but responds proactively. You see that this led to Joseph's success. If Joseph had acted reactively, he would have been a failure. Reactive people are influenced by external influences, such as moods, emotions, and situations, when they respond to stimuli.
stimulus response
stimulus reaction
according to values
freedom of choice
How do you become a leader?
1. Respond according to your values.
.
Joseph was not captured by anger or hatred when his brothers sold him into slavery. Even when the master's wife framed him and imprisoned him, he did not feel resentful. He was a man who was not bound by his emotions and was caught up in his vision. He thought of trials as God's preparation for his dreams and the blessings of his family. Joseph chose to respond according to his values. This shows that he is a leader.
Case in point - When Victor Frankl was imprisoned in a concentration camp during World War II, he learned that taking the initiative would give him "the last freedom of man."
“People who were imprisoned in concentration camps will remember those who went to barracks to comfort their relatives by handing out their last bread before they died. Although the number of such people may be small, their actions prove an important fact: People can take everything but one. For one thing, it was the fact that man has the ultimate freedom. That freedom is the freedom to choose one's actions in any situation." -Victor Frankl (Human Meaning Therapy)
When Nietzsche said, “He who knows a reason to live, he can endure almost any condition” means that we can overcome any hardship when we become people who act according to our values.
Responsive people are often influenced by their environment. They say that when the weather is nice, it feels good. Bad weather can affect your attitude or behavior. By the way, the leader can decide the weather himself. The weather itself doesn't matter much to them, whether it's raining or sunny. Because they act according to their values.
Responsive people are also influenced by social conditions. You feel better when people around you treat you well. But if the people around you don't, you become defensive and self-protective. Responsive people lead their own emotional lives by the actions of others. A leader is someone who values values over emotions. Reactive people act according to their mood, mood, conditions, and circumstances. Proactive people think, make choices, and act by values.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can inflict pain on you without your consent." Says. In other words, what bothers us far more than the event itself is that we allowed it to happen and we let it happen. We cannot say "I will choose another" until we sincerely and honestly say, "I am today the result of the choices I made yesterday."
Stephen Covey says that we ourselves suffer because we choose to suffer in response to it, not because of the event itself. It can also cause us sorrow by causing us to be physically or financially harmed. But that doesn't mean we have to be hurt.
Frankl was a person who, even in difficult circumstances, was able to inspire and inspire others by developing personal freedom. We know people living in very difficult conditions. Even if they have an incurable disease or a serious physical handicap, they are incredibly strong-minded. The lives of poet Song Myeong-hee and Unbo Kim Ki-chang are good examples.
… ..
2. Expand your circle of influence.
“The circle of influence is the part that contains things that a person can directly influence.”
“A circle of interest is an inclusive part of what people care about.”
The circle of influence is like a muscle that becomes more elastic and more developed through exercise, and diminishes when not used. When people focus on the things they can influence (such as loving others, balancing productive and productive capacity, etc.), their knowledge and experience increases and their credibility increases. As a result, the circle of influence widens. But when people focus their efforts on things they can't control, the circle of influence gets smaller.
When Joseph worked honestly and faithfully in his work and liked to help others, he expanded his influence and gained the recognition and trust of those around him. First, they are Potiphar's servants and masters. And in prison, he extended his influence to prison officers and prisoners to trust and rely on him. Then even Pharaoh came under his influence.
3. Take responsibility.
It is reactive when we blame others or shift the blame. When we focus too much on other people's shortcomings or take their actions too badly, it is very bad for us. Because we lose our ability to think, feel, and act wisely. But when we exercise initiative, the shortcomings of others cannot influence our decisions.
Taking initiative means taking responsibility for your own life. Responsibility refers to your ability to choose how you will react. A very proactive person accepts this responsibility. They don't make excuses for what they've done, whether it's the atmosphere, the circumstances, or what influence it has. Because we make choices based on our values, goals, and vision, regardless of the actions or temperament of others.
Proactive people have a sense of responsibility. Responsive people are not responsible. Words become seeds and control people's hearts.
Initiative Language Responsive Language
I chose to go. i have to go
I control my emotions. he makes me mad
So, find an alternative. There is nothing I can do.
I can do it. if … … .if only you can
“It is not the behavior of the other person that upsets us. At the most fundamental level, it is the reaction we choose to react to their behavior that upsets us.” -Stephen Covey
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23) The one who guards the heart is the leader. We must keep our minds from being bound by what is wrong, and keeping it from what is right. If we fail to guard our hearts and become responsive, we will not succeed. God uses leading people and shows glory. Let's take God's Word as our values and become those who respond accordingly. Let's expand the circle of influence. Let's be responsible. This makes us leaders.