Be Loyal

24 - Loyalty

It is important to have and demonstrate a commitment to others. Support family, friends, work associates, and teammates. Share their victories and successes and stand by them in difficult and challenging times. Work beside them in their endeavors, and bless them with your time and attention, being alert to their needs. Show a sense of allegiance and ‘adhere’ to a valued cause or purpose. Loyalty involves a fondness and respect for someone you admire and are affectionate for. Presently, who comes to mind when you think of loyalty? Who are you loyal to? Is it a person or more of a cause or purpose? Is there someone dedicated to you? How does this make you feel? Do you feel a change in any way, or have you felt a need to make positive changes due to someone’s faithfulness to you? Be aware of who you may be called to serve. There are many qualities of being loyal.

Characteristics of Loyalty:

Commitment. Be committed to someone or something you believe in. When you show loyalty to someone, there is a type of binding and faithfulness to them. It may be a commitment to some type of campaign, a volunteering opportunity, or a promise to another person. You must follow through with what you agreed upon and continue to support the person or event. Be dependable and faithful to your word. Whether out of desire or obligation, being loyal means you always show up and are trustworthy with your word and your support.
Discipline. It takes discipline and possibly restraint in matters of loyalty. It may not always be convenient or even easy, but impulses must be in-check, and self-control is essential when dealing with others. Loyalty is often favored in terms of the one receiving the devotion. If you are engaging in the act of being loyal, self-discipline may be required to meet the needs of serving another. Give of yourself in this selfless manner.
Respect. Respect is a part of committing to another. Generally, you won’t feel loyalty to someone without a sense of respect, especially mutual respect. There will be a feeling of reverence and admiration in order to partake in a willingness to commit to a person or a cause.
Integrity. Being true to yourself and others, guided by your values, shows integrity. Without truthfulness, there would not be a binding sense of loyalty. This involves conforming to a standard defined by your established values of what you consider right and wrong. Be authentic in all you do.
Love. An act of love cultivates loyalty to another. It is not always easy to remain loyal to someone as difficulties arise and challenges occur. Love relinquishes ulterior motives and the need to receive something in return. Rather, it is a selfless commitment of the heart to demonstrate your loyalty.
Passion. Passion is a key ingredient for loyalty. It includes a motivating factor driving you to commit to a cause or a person. Strong regard powering the dedication to someone expresses the joy within your spirit. Think of a time when passion has led you to pledge your loyalty to someone or perhaps to a cause. What or who fueled this passion?
Determination. Committing yourself to someone else, their agenda, or concerns takes determination. It entails perseverance to continue despite obstacles and, more than likely, a variety of other opinions and ideas. Determination will keep you unwavering and married to the original purpose.
Values. Clearly defined values lead to the development of loyalty. If the cause or person is not virtuous or aligned with goodness, there will be no desire to commit devotion. Your mind will not be at peace, and there will be no allegiance. Are your values transparent, lucid, and committed to memory?
Humility. Think of the actions of dogs towards their humans. They instinctively exhibit absolute love and loyalty as a visible priority. They will show unconditional and continual love and allegiance even after being scolded. There is no harboring of anger, bitterness, or resentment. It is the humblest of actions, yet dogs are adored for their love, loyalty, and devotion. There is so much to be learned from the behavior of dogs. Being loyal to another may require you to set aside your wants and focus on the desires and needs of someone else or a bigger cause in a sacrificial way. This is humility. You think of yourself less…but not less of yourself.
Trustworthiness. There is mutual trust in a loyal relationship. Without this trust, there would not be a commitment. It takes trust and faith in each other to share a bond of adherence and devotion. Never betray or deny this trust. Rather, embrace it and continue to earn it and nurture it daily. Be humble and genuine.