Everyday Life

being yourself and the influence you may not realize you have

Having moved a few times over the past two years has allowed me the opportunity to read letters from loved ones. These letters have given me an insight into who I was, who I am, and the understanding of the influence that one person can have on others.

It’s these unexpected letters of honesty that reveal so much:

“I have always been an open minded person, but you have opened my eyes to so many things and ideas and just general way of life that now I don’t understand how I didn’t always see it that way.”

“You know, it’s kind of crazy I’m writing you this letter because I’ve only known you for a little less than two years, but it feels like I’ve known you my whole life. I want to thank you for making me feel so a part of your family.”

I don’t share these as a way of self-congratulations, but simply that these letters and comments were a complete surprise to me. It’s these unexpected letters that made me realize that learning to be your authentic self is the ultimate form of positive influence. It wasn’t about the few times I tried to influence the people around me, but about the 99% of the time when I wasn’t trying…when I was just being myself.

Society seems to struggle with “creating change”, probably because we do it through conscious, deliberate and grand actions, instead of simply living everyday life in a way in which your actions and words align to your values. It’s this quiet, consistent behavior that speaks the loudest. It takes time, but people notice.

Joseph Campbell said, “The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are”, and not just for yourself, but for those around you because you have the power to create positive change simply by being who you are.