Am I a source of inspiration for my friends and family?

Compelling questions help to focus us to think more deeply and opens the door to self-examination.

Shine your light.

So many are in the dark.

For this thought experiment, I want to focus on people in our actual lives. Not celebrities, or politicians. Just folks that we interact with every day.

If you’re lucky, you have someone in your life who you crave to spend time with. Someone who, after you’ve spent some time together, leaves you feeling more energized, more alive, more you. These very special folks seem to have an emotional gravity to the that just naturally pulls others to them. These are the same people who you hope you’ll see, or you hope will be at an event that you’re attending.

Unfortunately, I can almost guarantee that you have someone in your life whom you dread seeing. Someone who seems to suck the life out of a room and after your conversation is over, you feel less energized, less alive, and less you.  People will tend to avoid this type of person. No kidding!

I’ve been thinking about this lately and wondering… Do I inspire or discourage?  How can we be more inspiring to others? In my experience, the short answer is to be more inspired yourself.

There are tons of traits that inspiring people have. Some folks may be inspired by a physical prowess, or by tales of beating the odds, or by financial success. Every human trait could be seen by someone as inspiring.

But there are two things all inspiring people share.  They have two core beliefs. They believe in themselves and they believe in others. When they speak of their ambitions, it is with great passion, optimism and enthusiasm. When they speak about others, it’s with admiration and joy.

Here are a few tips on how you can develop your inspiration muscle and become a beacon for others:

Follow your own path.

We’re inspired by those who dare to stand out from the crowd, follow their dreams, and live authentically. When you pursue your passion, others are encouraged to take a leap and follow their dreams.

Be authentic.

Share your successes and your failures. When you only talk about your successes, you become unrelatable. Most people have suffered some level of loss in pursuit of their goals and can’t identify with someone who’s always won. By being authentic, you can help people avoid pitfalls and make their path a little easier. Your authenticity may inspire them to keep going even when it’s tough or the outlook is bleak.

Share your inspiration.

Inspiring other people starts with you. You can’t share a flame you don’t have. To be inspirational, you must first be inspired. Share the quotes, stories, art, people, foods that inspire you. Share your story, the reason you do that you do. Talk about the impact you want to have, the people you want to reach, and the solutions that you hope to bring. Inspiration is contagious. As you share the things that motivate and encourage you, those around you may also become inspired.

Help others.

Life tends to knock us around and take the wind out of our sails. Be the voice of unconditional support for someone. Help others to see (and be) the best version of themselves. We all can demonstrate compassion and be a source of positivity.  

I believe that inspiration is in short supply and that most of have forgotten that we are brilliant. So, I encourage you to tap into your light and purposely shine it on people who cross your path. All you really need to be inspiring is desire, the rest will follow.