A Positive Look Backward
If you were to have a rear view mirror held up to you right now, what tips or encouragement would you offer the younger version of yourself about the road ahead? What would you say to the teenage version of you that might ease or clear the path for you going forward? Some might say that they wouldn’t change anything because they love the life they have today. Others live by the adage, hindsight is 20/20, and they have a laundry list of things they would change if they could.
The more conversations I have with people around this topic (no matter their background, age, career, or current situation) the more I hear a similar theme. We are all a well of knowledge, and I genuinely enjoy asking those I meet or interview what advice they might offer others going through similar challenges. The insights are surprisingly similar. Don’t take everything so seriously, as many things are out of our control. Just show up. Do your best. Put in the effort and never stop learning and growing through the process. Everything will work out, maybe not in the way you expected, but it will work out in the end. Sounds simple, yes? Definitely. However, remembering these nuggets of wisdom when you are frustrated, tired or uncertain takes focus and intent.
Signposts and Directions
Our path through life doesn’t come with a clearly defined roadmap. Many times, we are finding our way as we go, unsure of what to expect on the road ahead. All the more reason to be looking for advice, guidance or tips to ease the burden of paving our way forward. When we are open to gleaning these insights from one another, we notice signposts and “mini directions” more easily. In fact, the joy of discovering and learning from others is one of the reasons I started the No Labels No Limits podcast ( #NLNL ).
Recently, I was going through the checkout stand at the grocery store. In my opinion, the person in front of me had been particularly negative and rude to the cashier. Then, the cashier shared a powerful comment about how she changed her perspective on the prior customer, letting it go, and turning her attention on me. While our conversation was brief, her wisdom reinforced that shared by Benjamin Franklin:
“ Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.” — Benjamin Franklin
Then, there was the lesson my trainer passed along. Something she’d learned from another client: a 14-year-old boy. The story goes that she had been working out using a specific training regimen with this young man, getting him ready for competition. Mid-workout they moved to an empty machine. Then, a woman came over acting extremely put-out, stating the trainer and the boy had taken “her” machine, even though she had been nowhere around. As she approached the young man, she was throwing her weight around and making rude comments to anyone within earshot. The boy took it all in stride and without attitude or anger, simply said, “Well, obviously someone didn’t wake up with a smile this morning.” After the woman, clearly angry, stormed away, this young man didn’t immediately vacate the machine. He said sincerely, “I’m not sure what’s going on with her, but I’m positive it’s not about me.”
My trainer said that in that one moment she learned something valuable. She admitted that while she had been ready to defend their space, feeling responsible for her client and threatened by woman’s insinuation, the young man remained humble and relaxed. He suggested they could move the remainder of their session to another area and work on another machine.
It was evident, even at 14, he was the most clear-headed, centered person in the situation when he noted
“Someone did not wake up with a smile today.” —Anonymous
Gather and Share
Those kinds of life lessons are all around us, some seemingly small, happening every day. Are you open to perceiving them? How can you apply those lessons to your life or share them with others to enrich theirs? Just last year, I felt a strong desire to want to give back, share learned lessons and be of assistance to others in a new way. And so began the journey and launch of my No Labels No Limits podcast, where we learn from one another as our guests share stories of empowerment and the successes they’ve experienced despite adversity.
What can you do to give back or share your insights to help others through the challenges or obstacles they might be facing? Think over your life and some of the more difficult times you may have endured. Most of us had people who supported us, gave us advice, or guided us back to our path when we were going astray. Chances are, we haven’t personally thanked each person who influenced us during the ordinary course of our days.
Since we seldom know how we influence another – may I suggest intentional positivity?
Don’t let another day go by without doing your part to inspire and influence others. It can be as simple as sharing the gift of your smile. This one small action can have far-reaching effects. It is free, it’s easy, and the bonus is that it makes you feel better, too.
Some days can seem hard, but if we each put in a small effort to help others, we can make it a little bit easier for all. We here at SarahBoxx.com try to encourage others in as many ways as we can. Feel free to check out our blog, our podcast or our Facebook page for more motivation and inspiration on your path through life.
