When you elevate those around you, you will discover you naturally build great relationships. To truly live life as a success, or as I say in my book Life Palette, a masterpiece, focus on elevating everyone at all times. It is easy to tear others down, it does not take a great person to belittle others, but to build others up, to see them as a masterpiece, to elevate their strengths takes a great person.
Here are a few things to help you elevate others around you and to help you see them as the masterpiece God created them to be:
1. Elevate By Being An Example.
Assume for a moment that everyone at your work place, or in your family or in your neighborhood, had your attitude. Would that be good or would that secretly scare you? To elevate others it all begins with a commitment to lead the way in love. What example are you setting for those you influence? Is it all about you or are you focused on helping others succeed? “Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.” (1 Peter 5:3 NLT)
2. Focus On The Big Picture To Elevate.
Often it’s the little things that trip us up in our relationships. To elevate others you must see the big picture of how you relate to others and how they relate to you. Don’t let little things that will not matter in a couple of hours or days stand between you and a healthy relationship. “So encourage each other and build each other up” (1 Thess 5:11 NLT)
3. Commit To Building Elevating Relationships.
It’s always surprising to me how often people will share their goals or growth plans and not have anything listed about relationships. If you are going to live as a masterpiece you have to have Great Relationships. It all begins with you and how you invest in others. Elevate the priority of your relationships and make sure that they know they are a priority. “We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.” (Rom 15:2 NLT)
4. Elevate Through Inspiration.
Be a person that when others are around you, they are inspired to reach their potential. Make a conscious choice to build others up, to encourage them. Be one of those people that they can’t wait to be around knowing that they are better because they have been with you. Don’t be a person who others want to duck to avoid when they see you coming down the aisle in the store. “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” (Phil 2:4 NLT)
5. Elevate With Love.
Anyone can respond to others with hate, or simply be not responsive. Make a conscious decision that you are going to respond to everyone you interact with today with Love. “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Eph 4:29 NLT)
6. Be Flexible And You Will Elevate Others.
That hardly seems like a relational issue to most people. However, in life and relationships we can bet on unpredictability if anything. One of the surest ways to elevate those around you and encourage them is to be flexible with them when they experience an unpredictable moment. This will make you a person of grace and understanding. You will be loved for your flexibility. “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (1 Cor 13:4-7 NLT)
Make elevating others a part of your Life Palette. You will add value to them living as the masterpiece God created them to be and ultimately live the masterpiece life that God has for you as well.
Next Steps
Pick one of the six elevation steps today and make a point to elevate everyone you come in contact with today. Think for a moment about someone who has elevated you. How can you express your thanks to them today. Taking the six elevation steps, write out how you would like others to speak about you if they were describing you to someone who doesn’t know you.