JULY 29, 2022
The last two weeks we have been talking about being more thankful than having a grandiose sense of entitlement in this world. You all have heard the old saying; “Count your blessings,” It becomes overwhelming to think about all the things we have to be thankful for in our lives; but it might be a good idea to make gratitude your default mechanism. Many of us complain about; our circumstances, not having or being good enough, not looking the right way, not being smart enough, how people treat us or others, and what others say about us. (Wow! Elevator Guy. “Give me a break!) There are just too many negative influences in my life that I feel I should at least be “entitled” to some slack and deserve to get my way once in a while.” Don’t over think or over feel today’s message. Remember; “Gratitude opens the door to, the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the universe.” Deepak Chopra.
How do we combat an overblown sense of entitlement in ourselves? Again, people high in entitlement (who may be a little narcissistic) believe they should get what they want because of WHO they are. They feel they have “Earned” the right to be treated differently than others. This often leads to a feeling of arrogance, haughtiness, and pomposity. Luke 12:48 reminds us, “to whom much is given, much will be required.” Some wise words if you consider yourself “entitled.” Self-awareness is often thrown out the window once one becomes “entitled.” (Try self-absorbed here as well) That might be what we were taught from an early age and it blossomed even further as we entered adulthood with our families and careers. If you have any self-awareness at all, try practicing a little more; Thankfulness, Humility and Contentment in your life. You just might find a deeper and more meaningful gratitude level. Be intentional about it.
Why do many kids today act entitled? No matter what they get, clothes, toys, electronic gadgets, or acclamation, they seem to want more and don’t understand why they can’t have it immediately. It is incredibly frustrating when your child reacts with a bad attitude or by acting increasingly spoiled. As parents, it is our duty to pause, and say NO when your child asks for something. (I have seen quite a few so-called adults act the same way) It is important to realize that you can change this pattern at any time. Only a few wake up in the morning saying; “I’m going to spoil my child today.” We want to raise grateful children who become grateful adults. That is our goal.
We live in a world of “Selfies.” While this may seem harmless to the mind and heart, it seems to reward arrogance over humility. If you’ve played a part in your child’s (or other adults) sense of entitlement, it is not the end of the world. Don’t beat yourself up. You can start changing right now, even if you still live with or work with those demandingly entitled people. Here are a few ways you can work on promoting gratitude and fighting entitlement in your family:
- Set clear expectations. This means saying NO once in while which takes lots of practice. Explain the consequences ahead of time.
- Set a good example in your dealings with others.
- Encourage and promote greater love in your home or organization by cultivating an attitude of gratitude.
- Catch them doing something right instead of always finding fault with them. (Remember, they are all gifts from God so instruct them properly)
- Encourage gratitude as a first response
- Humility can be learned at any age. Why not start young?
There is so much more to learn about gratitude vs. entitlement. Reflect on it in your quiet time and think about what is best for you and your family going forward. Train yourself to find the blessing in everything. It all starts with you.
Elevator Guy
Quote for the Day: “What separates Privilege from Entitlement is GRATITUDE” Brene’ Brown