The Importance Of Having a Mentor (Or a Good Example)

Today I went to my dear friend’s wedding. I have known this person from when I was in 6^th grade and they have been a very big influence on me and my spiritual growth both as a great example when I was in school and as a friend. This person continues to be a beautiful example of God’s love for me. Today I got to witness a blessing in her life as a result of her faithfulness. But this got me thinking about how important it is to have a good example or a mentor in your life to follow and learn from.

What is a mentor anyway? According to the English Oxford Dictionary.

Mentor

NOUN

1. An experienced and trusted adviser*

So here are 5 reasons to have a mentor in your life:

1. They Have more experience. They know more about the subject you are being mentored in. You can also learn from their mistakes which can save you valuable time and a lot of pain.
2. They keep you Motivated. It’s really nice to hear someone you respect tell you, you’re on the right track. When you’re feeling down or don’t want to keep going they are there to help you get back up and be even more productive than you were before.
3. They understand where you’re at. The right mentor will be able to understand where you are and life and the struggles you are going through. They know because they have been there before you and got through it already. They can encourage you and help you understand why you could be going through that season of life.
4. They keep you accountable. They check in on you. A good mentor genuinely cares about you and how you are doing. They want what is best for you and are willing to ask you the hard questions in order to help you become a better version of yourself.
5. They give great advise. When you are having a problem in life or work a good mentor doesn’t mind questions and is willing to give you advise. Because of the things I’ve already listed above, their advice is normally sound. Just remember if you ask for advise actually take it! Nothing is more frustrating than someone asking for advice and then totally ignoring what is given to them. It makes the person giving you the advise think you weren’t listening to them.

I am really blessed to have great personal examples in my life and people who are willing to do these things for me if I ask. But what about those goals that are very personal? What if you have a goal to be a speaker or a singer or something no one around you in your personal circle is doing. This is where things get tricky. Well not really but sometimes they may become less personal. Find someone in the industry you want into. Someone who is living the life you want and do what they do. Watch how they live their life and start to replicate it. I’m not saying go copy a speech or a product. But take the principles they used and make them your own. If they come to your town or state, ask them out to lunch. Even if you don’t think they’ll say yes ask anyway! You might be surprised. If you are able to get time with them even half an hour, ask questions. If not listen to what they say, their story.

There is a singer named Jamie Grace. I found out about her probably at the age of 15. She was homeschooled, a Christian and a great musician. Her beliefs that she shared were similar to mine and even though I didn’t know her I knew that someday I wanted to be like her. So, I watched, and I learned. I realized that in order to reach the level she was at I was going to have to learn how to play some instruments. I was also going to have to be very intentional about my integrity and reputation. I could learn from her even if I never met her. You can do the same.

* https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/mentor