Recently on my drive to an early-morning appointment, I plugged in my favorite song from Mumsford & Sons, Little Lion Man. It's amazing what a well versed lyric and uplifting melody does to the psyche. Better than a double-shot of espresso!
Then an awful thought occurred to me, followed by intense emotion.
What if all the songs that inspire and uplift me had never been written?
There are so many small things that make such a great big difference in our lives. A song that energizes us, a word that uplifts us, a story from that book that tugged our heartstrings ––what if the collection of these small things makes the difference between joy and depression–– the degree of difference that gives special meaning to our lives?
That thought led to another idea... what if the people that wrote the songs, told the stories, or shared the words of encouragement had never done so? What if each one of them surrendered to the critical voices that are all too common,
Too many people give in to the fear and criticism inside them. I've been there myself... I still remember times when I've been so hard on myself that I refused to follow my passions and dreams, believing that the world was better off without me even trying... but those thoughts are lies. Have courage. Have Faith.
You make a difference.
The stories that you tell others about overcoming adversity, inspire others to overcome their own weaknesses...
The stories that you tell others about overcoming adversity, inspire others to overcome their own weaknesses...
Even if it's just sharing about someone else’s victory, stories of overcoming can directly or indirectly have a profound impact on hundreds or even thousands of lives around you!
Many of the moments that have impacted my life greatly are a result of such stories. My friend, and business owner, Frances is a great example. Her story of how she became a millionaire–– before she had even more than $100 dollars to her name–– is an inspiration to me.
"I became a millionaire the day when my father-in-law said to me that I would never amount to anything but a coffee-shop girl. No one had ever treated me like that. I was so angry, I got in his face and told him that from that day on, I didn't serve coffee... people would serve coffee to me. That month I started knocking on people's doors to sell their houses for $1,000 dollars. I sold ten houses and nobody could tell me I was the coffee-shop girl anymore."
What about the stories that you don’t tell?
What about the excellence that you resist pursuing because of your self image and fear? What if your story is that one degree of difference that someone down the line was waiting for to make a change for the better?
You have a responsibility to your fellow man. A responsibility to overcome your obstacles to become an inspiration to others.
Don't underestimate yourself. Be bold.
Realize, that you have the potential to impact people's lives in a profound ripple effect with every positive actions and every act of courage, love, or compassion that you have ever shared in your life.
You may have become the story or memory in someone's mind that makes them one degree better.
That one degree better is compounded over time into millions of positive interactions… but then…
...so have the negative thoughts that you have had about yourself or shared with others.
Those vibrations have also been broadcast into our world.
This is why self pity is a waste, and destructive. When you hold yourself back from overcoming, when you hold yourself back from creating–– and inspiring others to create!
When you hold yourself back from doing the thing that you were designed to do, (your calling, your destiny) you are stealing from the world the gift that is your life. In your selfish self pity, you are denying the world the one degree of better that makes a difference.
Who’s life could you be saving, simply by pursuing excellence in all your dealings… in overcoming your adversity… and in becoming the you that you were destined to be?
I know it’s hard… but who said it was supposed to be easy? Do the right thing anyway. Push yourself to be the best version of you. Then inspire others with your story.
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