Imagine someone who through the simple experience of you became your friend.
This may have happened as you worked alongside this person. This person may have been a client and you were, in your mind, just doing your job. This could be someone you ministered to in some small way during some critically important time in their life.
This person may not have originally interacted with you directly but benefitted from your leadership as they watched from close by. Whatever the case, you may not have noticed you were doing anything special or out of the ordinary.
In Their Eyes
In the eyes of this friend you are special. They sense purpose as they observe your behavior; with you they see consistency. You are someone whom they perceive as authentic. This friend has confidence in you and your abilities.
Whether or not they can place a tag on it, a friend like this feels the impact of your voice. Your voice is tangible in their experience of you. The tangible experience of your voice, combined with the respect they hold for you, gives this friend the confidence to encourage and exhort as you might need.
Cool With Who You Are
This level of encouragement and exhortation from a loving, caring friend is something to embrace and consciously honor. This could be difficult if you are not aware of this powerful presence called voice.
The friend I ask you to imagine is cool with who you are. For you to be cool with who you are, you must be conscious of your voice. Your voice has its roots deep in your core values. Without awareness of these values, we do not realize the power we are missing. Others are not fully benefitting from the impact of how we may consciously live from our voice.
Honor your voice and honor your friend.
Excellent article Jeff! You are spot on with your definition and explanation of the importance of a true friend. I really liked the “cool with who you are.” Because at the end of the day – THAT is what matters the most!