Our attitude, outlook, and demeanor are shaped by the combination of our life’s experiences, environment, genetics, and choices we make. From an early age, we are influenced by others, particularly family, friends, and teachers. These relationships help form our understanding of this world, setting a foundation for how we perceive ourselves and others. For instance, children who are raised in supportive and nurturing environments (especially from divinely inspired principles of truth) may very well develop a positive outlook. Those who face adversity might cultivate resilience or, conversely, struggle with a more negative perspective.
As we grow, our social and cultural influences continue to play a significant role. Plus, our genetic predispositions will also contribute to how we respond to our life’s situations. Ultimately, the choices we make are shaped by all these factors. They further reinforce our attitudes and demeanor, creating a feedback loop that influences how we are perceived by others. Our attitudes and actions reflect the cumulative effect of both internal and external influences, constantly evolving as we encounter new experiences and make decisions about how we want to engage the world. Our very best guide for this is God’s instructions in His divinely inspired Word…the Bible.
“Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone and love the family of believers.” (1 Pet. 2:12–17, NLT)
-John Driggers, Spiritual Advisor for Myers-Davis (12/2/2024, V6 #49)
To read other content drafted by John Driggers, please check out our Life Guides webpage here: Think of it this way – Myers-Davis Life Coaching
