Lesson 6

Everyone can’t be in your front row

Now, relax and listen to this poem about support.

Think about what this poem means to you. Who do you want to be in your front row?
Video Lesson

Video Lesson

What is a Support System?

My Journal

My Support System

Click on the diagram below to write the names of people who support you in different parts of your lives. It’s ok if no one comes to mind for some of the categories. Just leave the form blank and move on to the next one. Some people in your support system can fill more than one role, while others will provide only one kind of support.

Classmates and Coworkers

School and work can provide a purpose for living and many resources, possible friendships, and being part of a team. Who offered or can offer you support in school or in finding a job?

People in this list might be teachers, people who can help you with your homework, people who can help you make decisions about your job or ask for a raise.

Friends

People who help provide support and caring, who enjoy some of the same interests as you, and who keep you from becoming isolated or feeling left out.

Helpers

These are people who can be depended upon in a crisis for help. Helpers may be able to teach you how to solve a certain kind of problem. They may not be the type of person with whom you choose to have a close personal relationship. They are people who might give you a ride or help with your homework. They might be a pastor, a coach, a counselor, a teacher, an accountant, a probation officer, etc.

Family

Every family has its own gifts and challenges. Every family is different. It may be a biological family, blended family, foster family, nuclear family, or separated family. Consider what resources are available in your family. It may be only a place where you can sleep and eat. Or, it may be a source of support and safety, even love.

Due to circumstances, some people may develop a family of choice. This would be a family where you feel safe, spend holidays and free time. It is not your biological, adopted, or foster family, but you consider them your family. Who are the members of this family who are supportive of you?

Challengers

These are people who keep pushing you and motivating you to do better. They challenge you to explore new and better ways of doing things, and to keep improving. They can be demanding, never satisfied, and even critical. But, they offer a challenge that stretches you and helps you grow. And, in their better moments, you find them respectful and caring. At times they are your best cheerleaders.

Respect your competence

These are people who offer support and encouragement, especially when developing new skills. These are people who see the best in you. They are people who you would ask for a letter of recommendation, ask for advice about a new career or where to go to school.

Key Supporter

A key supporter is a person you can count on to support you through anything and respectfully tell you the truth about yourself. They always have our best interests at heart.
Can you think of three key supporters?

It’s ok if no one comes to mind! This just means that you need to find and develop your relationship with your key supporters. This can take time, but it begins with just saying hello, smile at them and use their name. Then, think of a common interest that you might be able to talk about.

Congrats!

You just completed an activity:

Choose a box to get experience points

Reward Boxes

Congrats!

You just earned:

Experience Points

25

Experience points help you keep track of your achievements. How many can you earn?

Wheel of Awareness Skill

Learn a Skill

Wheel of Awareness

Wheel of Awareness Skill

Practice a Skill

Wheel of Awareness

Congrats!

You just learned a skill:

Wheel of Awareness

Wheel of Awareness

Congrats!

You just completed an activity:

Choose a box to get experience points

Reward Boxes

Congrats!

You just earned:

A rare prize

Camera Rare Prize

These special rewards don’t appear often. See if you can collect all 5!

Congrats!

Lessons

1

You completed a lesson!

Experience Points

0

You added 0 experience points.

Skills Learned

1

You learned a new skill.

Life is a theater so invite your audiences carefully. Not everyone is holy enough and healthy enough to have a FRONT ROW seat in our lives.
There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance.
It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you let go, or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere relationships, friendships, fellowships and family!
Everyone can’t be in Your FRONT ROW.
Observe the relationships around you. Which ones lift and which ones lean?
Which ones encourage and which ones discourage?
Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are just going downhill?
When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse?
Which ones always have drama or don’t really understand, know, and appreciate you and the gift that lies within you?
Everyone can’t be in Your FRONT ROW.
The more you seek mindfulness, enlightenment, and wisdom, the more you seek quality, the more you seek things honorable, the more you seek growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you, the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the FRONT ROW and who should be moved to the balcony of your life.
Everyone can’t be in Your FRONT ROW.
You cannot change the people around you…but you can change the people you are around!
Ask for wisdom and discernment and choose wisely the people who sit in the FRONT ROW of your life.
Remember that FRONT ROW seats are for special and deserving people and those who sit in your FRONT ROW should be chosen carefully.
Everyone can’t be in Your FRONT ROW.