College Success Tip # 48 - Relationship Evaluations
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17
Have you ever taken the time to evaluate the status of your relationships?
Are your relationships fruitful?
Or do your relationships cause more negative problems than good?
This is a serious topic for higher education students because before, during and after the higher education journey, individuals will need to evaluate their relationships to determine if their associations are sharpening them or dulling them.
I understand that some individuals are in our lives for a specific reason and purpose. Some relationships God divenly connects us with for a season or a lifetime, but prayer and asking God to reveal the status of any relationship is key!
There are some relationships that are toxic that individuals must get out of because it not only affects them negatively in their personal lives but the toxicity is evident in one’s personal, academic and God-honoring targets.
I personally had to evaluate the friends and relationships I was in during my long academic journey and there were individuals who I thought would be my friends for a long time but it turned out to be the opposite. In some cases, it was no fault of anyone’s it was just that, season was over and we were moving on to bigger and better things separately.
There were some instances though where I had “friends” who exhibited bitterness, jealously and malice towards me from their own issues and insecurities which caused the relationship to end.
There were some occurrences where I got emotionally attached to people who ended the relationship based off their own reasons.
There were some situations when my peers only conversed with me to gain something academically or professionally.
And the list can go on and on. But I encourage individuals to evaluate their relationships. If you have a “so called” friend or family member who vehemently expresses their support for your new academic journey but their actions are a polar opposite of their declarations it might be time to evaluate that relationship.
If you have someone in your life who studies your school or professional schedule and purposefully makes attempts to hold you hostage where you cannot excel academically you might need to evaluate the status of that relationship.
If a coworker or boss learns of your academic pursuits and tensions arise in the office with a slew of issues that all stem from you following your academic desires, then one must evaluate their relationship.
If you have a “friend” who does not support your academic achievements and goals but out rightly supports other “friends” academically and actually tells you how they will go support others but not you academically, without regard, you might need to evaluate the status of that relationship.
You might need to evaluate the relationship of someone you are interested in but the relationship is going absolutely nowhere.
Now you might have a family member or friend who supports your academic pursuits because they know that when you excel and they assist you in love they will reap a harvest also. And they genuinely want to witness the favor and power of God's blessing of promotion over your life.
There are some family members, coworkers and friends who want to see you do well, but prayer is vital as God strengthens you as He separates you from fruitless relational bonds.
Some relationships are distractions and seeking Godly wisdom and guidance is vital as you aim towards the target!
Seek God honoring relationships that sharpen you, not dull you or dumb you down.
Peace & God Bless,
Aiming Towards the Target,
Dr. Bryant
