Influence: the capacity to have an effect on the character, development or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.

Influence.

It’s something you have whether you like it or not. It’s not something you can get rid of, avoid or wish away. Everything you do or say influences someone and/or something else.

Everything.

In some cases, we are thankful for the influence of others on our lives and the lives around us. We are thankful for those who set good examples, who make good choices, and who lift others up in every way possible. We are glad when we see those who aim for nothing more than to shine a light in the world that is all too quickly being overcome with darkness. We are refreshed to see others lend a helping hand to those who need it; we are elated to see the actions of one human being work for the benefit of another.

There is a problem when it comes to influence, though…

NOT ALL INFLUENCES ARE GOOD.  And you have the power to change that. 

It’s easy to make choices when “me, myself and I” are all I have to worry about. But that is never really the case. Newton’s 3rd law states that “for each and every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction.” Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that AP Physics is probably the worst thing that’s ever happened to me, but I’m definitely thinking Sir Isaac Newton was on to something. When you apply it to real life (even though I’d really prefer to not include physics in my real life…) it basically means that every single thing you do has a consequence. We all struggle with this, myself most definitely included. Sometimes it’s just not in your thought process that there is someone on the other end of every decision you make in this life, and there is someone watching and learning from you and your choices. Sometimes it’s just so much easier to decide based on what you want and what you think will benefit you the most. But for every fork in the road, the path you choose always influences those who are following close behind. All of your decisions set the tone for what the world around you will choose to do.

You are in charge of your influence and only you can decide what kind o influence that will be. No one else can decide it for you. You are in charge of your “capacity to affect others” – you make the rules. No one is born already branded to be a “bad influence.” You get to choose how you affect this world and you have the opportunity to do it in whatever way you want. That being said, just know that there’s not enough time in this life to make choices out of anger, pain or discomfort. There’s not enough time to act without the knowledge of how your decisions will impact those you lead. There’s not enough time to make decisions based on emotional highs and lows or out of complete self-interest.

I pray that in everything you do, you do it for the benefit of not only yourself, but for the people whom your decisions impact. I pray that with every move you make, you make it with serious thought, prayer and deliberation. I pray that you make decisions based on your “capacity to have an effect on the development or behavior of someone or something (aka: INFLUENCE.)” With every chance you have intros life to make a move, to do something with great intention, to be a game changer, I pray that you take full advantage of the influence you have for the sake of the world around you.

So choose to take ownership of every action you make. Choose to be vulnerable in the face of controversy. Choose to be the influence you would want your spouse, siblings, friends, and children to have because in the end, that’s what it is: a choice.

SO thankful for my crazy, sweet, fun-lovin bff who is arguably the best influence in my life. thanks for loving the beach and coffee as much as I do… Oh and for never getting annoyed at my incessant desire to take pictures of the sunset…

AND thankful for perfect sunsets that remind me there’s someone out there so much bigger than myself.