While riding my bike home from painting class, I stopped at Trader Joe’s (a grocery store). The above photo was snapped outside the store.
I like the message, but I’m not sure I know how to go about doing it. How do you choose to go out into the world and inspire someone? If that’s my focus and intent, does my behavior change from authenticity to, well, some sort of narcissistic version of who I actually am? In other words, if my whole goal is to make an impression on someone, do I lose sight of just being a good me?
While I rode my bike home, I was pondering all this and the one thing that kept popping up in my head is that I’d prefer to be inspired by someone. By a lot of someones, really. And if I’m living my life with my eyes and mind open, I’m pretty danged sure there will be multiple examples of inspiration along my daily path. Why do I believe this? I don’t know. I just do.
Inspiration comes in about a jillion forms. And maybe one of those forms will be me. But for now, I don’t plan on going out the door, aiming for being an inspiration. I just want to actively live my life, in a way that allows me to sleep at night. If that results in my inspiring someone, well, that’s icing.
Then again, maybe this whole process of being authentic and true to myself is inspiring – to me. You know what? I’ll take it.
I think that’s exactly right: what comes from the heart, reaches the heart, and by living the truth of who you are at your core, you lead by example and inspire others to do the same.
Do you. ;o)