The Key to Inspiring Others

You know what inspires others? An inspired you.  But how many times do we look outside ourselves for the keys to our own effectiveness?  How many books do we buy?  Seminars do we attend? How many people or websites do we turn to, hoping that they will provide the secret to being a better inspiration to others?
 
That model’s got it all backwards. And Michael Jackson had it right:
 
Start with the man in the mirror.
 
Or, to paraphrase Confucius:
 
In order to change your world, you must start with yourself.
 

After all, what good is it to clean the lighthouse’s windows if the light inside won’t shine?

 
Think about all the people who inspire you.  What is it about them that inspires you?  Al the things they’ve accomplished by a certain age?  Their expertise in something or other?
 
When I think about the people who inspire me, they all are illuminated from within.  They aren’t out there trying to inspire me.  They are simply doing the things that they can’t not do, with purpose and with passion.  It is their light that inspires me… their willingness to embrace what they are meant to do, and to do it fully. Their passion is not an act to be performed while on stage, or a costume to wear in public and then take off backstage.  They inspire because they embody what they believe and aren’t afraid to do so.  And something about them resonates with what we believe… and that inspires us to be more of our best selves more often… .until being our best selves becomes second nature, and we don’t even think about it any more: we just are that way.
 

In other words, it’s leading by example.

 
If you want a more collaborative workplace, collaborate with others.
 
If you want a more loving relationship, be more loving toward others.
 
If you want to inspire others to live their best lives… focus on living your best life, unabashedly and well.
 
When you change, the dance around you changes.  And really, that’s the ony thing you have any real control over: what you do and how you choose to respond to things.
 
So the next time you want to find a way to inspire others to do something, put down the Windex, step away from the windows, and focus on making your own light shine instead.

I cannot wait to see what you draw forth,