Episode 96 - A Stewardship Perspective
Episode 96 - A Stewardship Perspective
Hello, my friends.
Welcome to this week’s podcast. I am so excited to be here and to share this week’s episode with you.
I wanted to let you know about something I am doing this year in my Seasons of Joy Community Facebook Group. I am going to go live once a month in my community to do Ask Jill Anything. This is where members of the community can ask questions about anything they are struggling with. This is a free community to help people see the power of faith-based life coaching.
I have included a link to join the community in the show notes. I would love to have you join us so come and see what it is like.
I also wanted to let you know of an upcoming one day workshop called, "Navigating Midlife with Grace: Strengthening Connections with Yourself, Others, and God.” The purpose of this workshop is to help empower women of faith in the midseason of life as they work on deepening their relationships with themselves, others, and God, and providing them with practical tools and strategies to do just that. This is an opportunity to gather with other women of faith in a safe and supportive space to share experiences, and connect with one another.
Watch for more details to come in the next couple of weeks.
I am also going to be releasing my 100th podcast episode in February. I can’t believe I will hit 100 episodes and I want to do something special to celebrate. I am going to be doing a special giveaway as we get closer to watch for more information about that so you can celebrate with me.
Now on to this week’s episode.
Last week on the podcast, I talked about my perspective on repentance. This perspective was a huge paradigm shift for me and has helped view repentance as a gift of progression not punishment. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to this episode, I invite you to give it a listen, episode 95 - A Look at Repentance.
This week, I want to build on this a little bit with another paradigm or perspective shift.
When we are able to see as the Savior sees, we are better able to feel as He feels, and do as He would do. This process begins with what we think or our inner thought patterns. Those thought patterns create our emotions which fuel our behaviors which ultimately shape our life experiences. So if we want to create desired change or growth in our lives or our relationships, we must pay attention to our thought patterns.
One of those thought patterns involves a stewardship perspective versus ownership perspective..
When we think of ownership, we often think of the idea of possessing something and having the right to do with it as we please. But when we think of stewardship, we think of the idea of taking care of something that belongs to someone else.
If we use our planet as an example, the idea of stewardship versus ownership is an important one to consider. While we may technically own the land that we live on, it is our responsibility to take care of it and ensure that it remains healthy for future generations.
When we view ourselves as stewards rather than owners, we are more likely to make decisions that help us show up in our own life with more charity, peace, kindness, acceptance, understanding, love, and compassion.
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in the doctrine or law of consecration. This means that each person dedicates their time, talents, possessions, and everything they have or ever will have unto God to help build His Kingdom on the earth. In turn, God gives back to us certain responsibilities under the title of stewardships. Things like our time, our talents, our assets (including our bills), our body, our spouse, our children, our parents, our neighbor, our church, our job, and our community are all examples of stewardship.
Stewardship, quite simply, is viewing all that we have and everything that we are as a gift from God and showing our gratitude for all of it by caring for all of it as a way to honor God.
When we can view our earthly experience as a master class of learning how to overcome the world by practicing how to see, feel, do, and become like the Savior, we can begin to understand the important difference between an ownership perspective and a stewardship perspective in our personal lives.
I once heard it said this way, “If one takes ownership for their children, their spouse, their finances, their mind, their body, and their happiness, they have chosen to rely on themself for their achievement. Their focus is temporal. There may be some spiritual seeking, but the load is on the man or woman. They see their happiness, their success, their very life, dependent upon their temporal achievements.
However, if we can see that we are the steward over all of these areas of our life, then we are better able to focus on receiving instruction, inspiration, guidance, and strength through the Spirit. This is because we were never meant to walk alone on this earth. It is the Savior’s mission to help us overcome this world, to become like Him, and live with Him again.
So let’s look at a few examples to gain some insight into an ownership perspective vs stewardship perspective.
Parent-Child Relationships:
Ownership Perspective: This can look like an authoritarian approach to try to control every aspect of the child's life, hindering their ability to develop their own autonomy and decision-making skills.
Stewardship Perspective: This can look like parents seeing themselves as stewards of their children's well-being, guiding them towards independence while providing support and mentorship.
If I yell at my family, I have an ownership perspective. When I am proud when my child performs well, believing I have done a good job as a parent, I have an ownership perspective. When my child does poorly or makes a mistake, I feel worthless, upset, and I condemn myself for not being a good parent. I have an ownership perspective.
However, if as a parent, I see my child as a stewardship assignment, I may feel bad when the child makes a mistake, then I can pray to get in tune with the Spirit to carry out my stewardship assignment of helping my child learn from his or her mistakes. By trying to see as Christ sees, feel as he feels, and do as he would do, I can really help my child to have a true learning experience.
Partnerships and Marriage:
Ownership Perspective: Implies a possessive mindset, where one partner may feel entitled to control or dominate the relationship. This approach may hinder a person’s growth or the strength of the marriage.
Stewardship Perspective: Emphasizes shared responsibility and mutual growth. Both partners view the relationship as a collaborative journey, where they care for and nurture each other's well-being.
When my spouse doesn’t give me the attention I wish they would, I can seek heavenly perspective. My stewardship with my spouse actually provides me the perfect opportunity to draw closer to God so I can practice seeing, feeling and doing as the Savior would. It also helps me to develop and grow my capacity to love my spouse regardless of what they are doing or not doing at the moment.
Body
Ownership Perspective: Is seeing our body as something we control or possess, possibly treating the body as an object to be molded or manipulated according to certain standards, often influenced by societal ideals. It may also cause us to prioritize validation from outside ourselves, perfection, or conforming to certain beauty standards.
Stewardship Perspective: Emphasizes our responsibility to care and honor our body as a gift to use during our time here on earth, not as our identity. It is the means by which we experience this life and influence the world for good.
As I take care of my physical body, I am carrying out a stewardship assignment for God, whom I love. It provides me with the perfect opportunity to draw closer to God so I can practice seeing, feeling and doing as the Savior would. It also helps me to develop and grow my capacity to love my body for the gift it is. Recognizing that its size, shape, or abilities don’t determine my value, worth, or God’s love for me. This approach focuses on understanding and respecting the body's needs as well as taking care of my physical and mental health.
Friendships:
Ownership Perspective: When one person seeks to dominate or control another person, friendship can turn toxic, leading to a lack of autonomy and personal space.
Stewardship Perspective: When friends value each other's individuality and support personal growth, they contribute positively to each other's lives without seeking to control or possess.
When my friend expresses views or takes actions that differ from my own, I embrace the opportunity to gain a heavenly perspective. Nurturing my connection with God through this friendship allows me to align my thoughts, emotions, and actions with those of the Savior. It serves as a means to enhance my ability to love my friend unconditionally, respecting her unique individuality while fostering my own personal growth and development.
Co-workers:
Ownership Perspective: A more hierarchical approach can lead to power struggles and an environment where individuals may feel controlled or micromanaged rather than empowered.
Stewardship Perspective: Colleagues collaborate, share responsibilities, and work together for the collective success of the team. Everyone contributes and supports each other's professional development.
If my co-worker is taking credit for the work I have contributed to a group project, I do have a choice of perspective. An ownership perspective focuses on the idea of it being “my” work. They win, I lose. However, my stewardship with my co-worker actually provides me the opportunity to draw closer to God so I can practice seeing, feeling and doing as the Savior would. Instead of feeling ownership over the work, consider it as a collaborative effort for the success of the entire team. Your contributions, even if not acknowledged immediately, still play a part in the overall success of the project. Stewardship encourages a focus on collective achievements rather than individual recognition.
See the situation as an opportunity for personal growth and development. A stewardship perspective encourages a growth mindset, where challenges become chances for learning and improvement. Reflect on how this experience can contribute to your own professional and personal development.
Rather than responding with frustration or resentment, approach the situation with empathy and understanding. Consider that your co-worker may be facing challenges or insecurities of their own. Stewardship involves recognizing the humanity in others and responding with compassion.
View your work not as a possession to be claimed but as a contribution to a higher purpose. By connecting with God and seeking guidance, you can find strength and wisdom in responding to challenges in a way that aligns with your values and principles.
Consider the scenario as an opportunity to practice Christlike attributes such as forgiveness, patience, and humility. Stewardship involves aligning your actions with the teachings of the Savior, even in challenging situations.
Community and Social Responsibility:
Ownership Perspective: This mindset may manifest in an exclusive attitude, where some people or groups try to control resources and power at the expense of others.
Stewardship Perspective: Community members actively contribute to the well-being of the community, seeing themselves as stewards of its prosperity and harmony.
If I am serving as a leader within a church calling, such as the president of an auxiliary, I might be naturally inclined to resist entrusting others with responsibilities or involving them in decision-making processes. This resistance might come from a desire to maintain control over various aspects of the activities, or believing that my own value or position will be diminished in some way. That is an ownership perspective.
However, recognizing my stewardship in the church community presents an amazing opportunity to strengthen my connection with God. It allows me to actively embody the principles of compassion and selflessness, mirroring the way the Savior would lead. Rather than holding tightly to control, this stewardship perspective encourages me to develop and expand my capacity for shared leadership, inclusivity, and a deep belief in the valuable role each person plays in the spiritual journey of the community.
All of our stewardships are important, and these are just a few examples, because they are the very vehicles to develop the capacity to receive the gift of Charity–to love God and all people. They provide opportunity after opportunity to learn and grow–to become.
In Ganel-Lyn Condie’s book, the Stewardship Principle, she says, “The voice of stewardship, not ownership, is sweeter and softer. And heeding it will improve how you approach and endure all the miracles and messes that mortality has to offer.”
When we can view EVERYTHING in our life, even the very difficult things, as stewardship instead of ownership, we are better able to move away from “anxiety, judgment, control, and struggle” and move towards Charity.
Ganel-Lyn also says in her book, “It may seem easy enough to celebrate all the good things in life, but what about all the things you don’t love? Can things like chronic illness, depression, or a learning disability also be good for you or [God’s kingdom]? She goes on to say, “Pain is an inevitable part of life, but when you approach the harder things with an ownership [perspective], the necessary pain expands to optional suffering. When you look at life with an ownership lens, the bad stuff feels heavier. Pressing forward becomes myopically painful. Instead of seeing experience and learning, you see punishment or a curse.”
A stewardship perspective can be transformative in our life.
Embracing a stewardship perspective fosters a sense of gratitude, allows us to appreciate and celebrate not only the positive aspects of life but also challenges and difficulties. Gratitude becomes a tool for personal growth and spiritual development.
A stewardship perspective empowers us to navigate challenges with resilience and strength. Instead of viewing difficulties as punishments or curses, they are seen as opportunities for growth and learning–as a way to become who we were meant to be.
A stewardship perspective transforms adversity into purpose. When we are faced with chronic illness, depression, or other challenges, we can find meaning in our experiences by contributing to the well-being of others and to building God's Kingdom.
There is a connection between adopting a stewardship perspective and reducing anxiety and the need for control. A stewardship perspective encourages us to surrender the need to control every aspect of our life, promoting a sense of peace and trust in a higher purpose.
Life is a continuous journey of learning and growth. A stewardship perspective allows us to approach each experience with an open heart and mind, recognizing the value of both positive and challenging moments in shaping character and deepening understanding.
A stewardship perspective nurtures empathy and compassion. By recognizing that everyone is on their unique journey, we become more understanding and supportive of others as they face their own struggles.
Personal growth, the process of becoming, when approached with a stewardship perspective, contributes to building God's Kingdom here on on Earth. Every person’s journey becomes a valuable piece in the broader tapestry of creating a better world.
When we can begin to shift from an ownership perspective to a stewardship perspective, we play a vital role in creating a more compassionate and interconnected community working towards lifting one another and contributing to the greater good.
So, this is my invitation to you. Think about the different stewardships in your life. What is your perspective? Is it one of ownership or one of stewardship? And finally, what would your life be like if you could shift your perspective?
That is all I have for you today. Thank you for being here and have a joyful week.
Mentioned on the podcast:
Seasons of Joy Podcast Episode 95 - A Look at Repentance
The Stewardship Principle:Reframing Your Life by Ganel-Lyn Condie
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