16 Jan Inspiration in the Mirror
To kick off 2016, I have taken on a challenge that I have been considering for a couple of years now – getting certified to be a life and career coach. The program recently held its first intensive weekend session, and given what I do in my “day job”, I thought this would be a breeze. I am happy to report that, in fact, it was not.
This is not to scare off anyone who might be considering similar programs, but instead it is a perfect place to insert the old adage, “that which does not kill us makes us stronger.” Or, more basically, the only way we grow is to push beyond our comfort levels.
One exercise in particular did just that.
We were instructed to reach out to people close to us and ask what about us they found most inspiring. Doing so brought home the point that we cannot help others step into their power until we have embraced ours.
My knee-jerk reaction was to resist. How pretentious to assume that I inspire people! I even likened the request to “fishing for compliments”.
Despite my level of unease, I sent the text, and people soon started answering with thoughtful responses. Interestingly, to me, several used similar adjectives that I had never associated with myself. Over the course of the following days, I reread those comments and began thinking a lot about the very concept of inspiration itself.
Being a word geek, I looked up the origins of “inspire”. It comes from a Latin word that means “to breathe upon or into”. Taken further, the word is a cognate of spritus, or, as we know it today, spirit, which means the “breath of god”.
When we inspire, we are influencing or producing a feeling using the “breath of god”.
Each of us has our own particular beliefs about big-G God, or little-g god, or no g at all. Regardless of viewpoints on this, the process of exploration made me realize, that inspiration is in fact completely opposite from how I was approaching the idea.
Instead of being a me-centered concept, true inspiration comes from connecting to something larger than ourselves and channeling that energy to propel others to action.
Inspiration is not always positive. I can thTo kick off 2016, I have taken on a challenge that I have been considering for a couple of years now – getting certified to be a life and career coach. The program recently held its first intensive weekend session, and given what I do in my “day job”, I thought this would be a breeze. I am happy to report that, in fact, it was not.
This is not to scare off anyone who might be considering similar programs, but instead it is a perfect place to insert the old adage, “that which does not kill us makes us stronger.” Or, more basically, the only way we grow is to push beyond our comfort levels.
One exercise in particular did just that.
We were instructed to reach out to people close to us and ask what about us they found most inspiring. Doing so brought home the point that we cannot help others step into their power until we have embraced ours.
My knee-jerk reaction was to resist. How pretentious to assume that I inspire people! I even likened the request to “fishing for compliments”.
Despite my level of unease, I sent the text, and people soon started answering with thoughtful responses. Interestingly, to me, several used similar adjectives that I had never associated with myself. Over the course of the following days, I reread those comments and began thinking a lot about the very concept of inspiration itself.
Being a word geek, I looked up the origins of “inspire”. It comes from a Latin word that means “to breathe upon or into”. Taken further, the word is a cognate of spritus, or, as we know it today, spirit, which means the “breath of god”.
When we inspire, we are influencing or producing a feeling using the “breath of god”.
Each of us has our own particular beliefs about big-G God, or little-g god, or no g at all. Regardless of viewpoints on this, the process of exploration made me realize, that inspiration is in fact completely opposite from how I was approaching the idea.
Instead of being a me-centered concept, true inspiration comes from connecting to something larger than ourselves and channeling that energy to propel others to action.
Inspiration is not always positive. I can think of countless times in my life when the voice of authority has inspired me to do quite the opposite. Maybe there have been times when my words have had similar affect on others.
But, at the end of the day, my take away is an understanding that we all inspire. It is not self-centered to say so. Rather, it is a recognition that each of us has the “breath” of something greater than our individual self.
Thanks to this lesson, I have a new commitment — to begin each day by looking in the mirror and finding inspiration that will propel me towards action. It begins with me, but success ultimately depends on making that larger connection. Only then, can I, hopefully, breathe this spirit into others.
So look in the mirror, and share what inspires you.ink of countless times in my life when the voice of authority has inspired me to do quite the opposite. Maybe there have been times when my words have had similar affect on others.
But, at the end of the day, my take away is an understanding that we all inspire. It is not self-centered to say so. Rather, it is a recognition that each of us has the “breath” of something greater than our individual self.
Thanks to this lesson, I have a new commitment — to begin each day by looking in the mirror and finding inspiration that will propel me towards action. It begins with me, but success ultimately depends on making that larger connection. Only then, can I, hopefully, breathe this spirit into others.
So look in the mirror, and share what inspires you.