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Sometimes it helps to get a little dose of encouragement—along with a good cup of coffee!—to start the day. Today we discuss "Identification".

Hopefully, the message below will help you get off to a good start for the week. Please feel free to forward the newsletter along to others who you think would benefit from the content.

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Identify

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Living in Chicago, I take my life into my own hands every time baseball comes up in conversation. Why? Because I am—loud and proud—a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Yep, I said it. And yes, I can already hear the collective gasp from Cubs fans echoing down Michigan Avenue.

When you identify as a Cardinals fan in Chicago

Let’s be honest: in this city, that’s basically like walking around with a “Kick Me” sign taped to your back. Cubs fans aren’t just passionate, they’re everywhere. And if you dare to mention the Cards, well, let’s just say you’re in for a “lively discussion.”

Now, I could lay out all the reasons why the Cardinals are the better team (and I have the facts to back it up). But experience has taught me something important: debating baseball loyalty in Chicago is a losing battle. So instead, I usually smile, shrug, and save my breath.

The bigger picture: many ways we identify

But here’s the thing—the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry is more than just about baseball. It’s a perfect example of something much deeper: our human tendency to identify strongly with certain things in life.

For some, it’s a sports team. For others, it’s a career, a community, a faith, or even a favorite coffee order (don’t get me started on the “Starbucks vs. Dunkin’” debates in Chicago!).

We all carry these identities with us, and they shape how we show up in the world.

Core beliefs and identity

At the heart of it, every person you and I encounter has a core set of beliefs—things they hold to be true, things that define who they are.

And while those beliefs may not always align with ours, they are central to that person’s identity. Recognizing that is essential if we want to build strong, meaningful relationships.

Showing love, no matter what

Here’s the catch: acknowledging someone’s identity doesn’t mean you have to agree with them. Believe me, I’m never going to be a Cubs fan! But it does mean you meet them with love and respect, no matter what they believe or stand for.

(Okay, full disclosure: with Cubs fans, I usually mix in a little sympathy too. Old habits die hard.)

That brings me to this week’s question:

• What do you identify with?

Thanks for sharing a bit of your time with me this Monday morning.

Have a great week!
Curt

 

About MMM: Each week I publish “Monday Morning Motivation” in the hopes that one person will find a bit of inspiration and that inspiration will have a positive impact on their life. My motivation comes from experiences, reading, sermons, and discussions.

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Blog post from this past week:

Monday Morning Motivation -Validation