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In this episode...
How to Keep Others From Abusing Your Best Christian Traits
https://faithfulontheclock.captivate.fm/episode/how-to-keep-others-from-abusing-your-best-christian-traits
Sometimes, the best traits Christians have make them a target for abuse in the workplace. Episode 122 explains some of the main characteristics people take advantage of and how to protect yourself.
Timestamps:
[00:04] - Intro
[00:40] - Your Christian characteristics set you apart and are not something you ever should feel ashamed about.
[01:27] - Abuse of Christian characteristics routinely gets tied to the idea of being a team player in the workplace. But it is never acceptable, including on the job.
[02:35] - Generosity can be abused by people who expect Christians to give both time and money.
[04:02] - People who expect Christians to be forgiving might pressure you to look the other way and let things go when people hurt you or behave unethically at work.
[04:30] - Patience gets abused at work when people string you along with no clear time deadlines. It also can get abused in the sense of forcing you to tolerate annoyances or bad behavior from others.
[05:54] - Compassion is one of the most intentionally abused traits. People make you think you are not loving enough if you don’t sacrifice or if you go after your own needs and goals.
[06:33] - Abuse of integrity often shows up as exclusion, but people also can ask you to take the fall (or set it up so you do). It can tie to their desire to continue with the bad behavior status quo.
[08:23] - People can abuse humility by urging you not to brag or credit, only to then step into the quiet space you’ve left to intentionally promote themselves.
[08:57] - Boundaries is your first and best defense against abuse of your Christian traits.
[09:21] - Good communication can ensure people don’t make presumptions that can worsen their abuse.
[10:38] - Stepping back and distancing yourself from abusers is a viable option, but be mindful that redemption is often a long game. Don’t stick around bad people at the risk of corrupting your own character.
[12:34] - Self-care is a valuable way to combat others taking advantage of you because it energizes you spiritually and makes you more confident and consistent. That’s often attractive to others and can open the door to conversations about your faith.
[13:53] - Prayer
[14:40] - Outro/What’s coming up next
Key takeaways:
