Atmosphere that is sustained creates a Climate ….

Climate that is sustained creates a Stronghold ….

Stronghold that is sustained determines Culture.

Atmosphere that is sustained creates a Climate .    I’ve heard it said that atmosphere is everything.  This is a powerful statement because it is true that atmospheres have the power to influence our mood, feelings, behavior, and even our effectiveness in a given situation.  Atmospheres have a unique fluidity to them and can change at any moment. You and I have the power to shift an atmosphere at any time.  For example, if you give a soft response in a very hostile confrontation, it turns the anger and allows people to keep cool.  If you want a Climate of confidence and peace, you must consistently allow positive words and acts to dominate the atmosphere.  The reverse is also true.  If you consistently allow negative words and emotions to permeate an atmosphere, your Climate will be one of fear and intimidation.

Climate that is sustained creates a Stronghold .    In the study of Meteorology, a climate is the prevailing weather condition of a region.  As it relates to our personal lives, a climate can be the prevailing attitudes, standards, or environmental conditions of a person or people group.  Have you ever met someone who is always happy?  I mean… every time you see them, they are cheery and encouraging.  It seems like they don’t have a care in the world.  Their climatic condition is that of happiness.  Their prevailing attitude, their atmospheric standard is that of happiness.  A stronghold is a mindset.  It is a belief system that influences the behavior of a person or group of people.  An example of a stronghold is someone who is comfortable in poverty.  They save everything, never discard anything. They wash paper plates, reuse pop cans, never dare go to a “nice” restaurant. They feel uncomfortable with having money, so they spend it.  They believe that life will not get better, and they despise people who live “better” than they do.  They can’t keep a job, because they feel like the world owes them.  These are some examples of how a stronghold (mindset) can effect a person or group of people.  It is a fact that some ethnic groups have developed a certain stronghold and it began in the climate of their homes.  When that stronghold becomes sustained, it creates culture.

A Stronghold that is sustained determines Culture.  Culture is the apex of human behavior because it affects people over a prolonged period of time and is very hard to break.  Along with culture comes a language, humor, style of fashion, artistic expression, and authority protocol that is relevant within the inner workings of that culture.  One example of a culture is the “Hip Hop Culture” that has had a global impact.  The Hip Hop Culture has it’s own language, humor, style of fashion, artistic expression, and authority protocol.  I have seen this movement evolve to what it is today.  It has literally erased ethnic and social boundaries.  It is something when people across the world take on the cultural patterns of the Hip Hop Culture.  It’s important to note that each home has a culture.  Each church, school, country, and corporation has a culture.  Culture is everywhere.  Sometimes cultural patterns evolve into something that it was never intended to become.  What is it that you don’t like about your culture?  How is it affecting your life?

Think about this.  Whether good or bad, all cultural behaviors started with a sustained atmosphere.  Pay attention to your atmosphere, because “Atmosphere is everything.”