From the time we are wee little children. people start asking, “What do you want to be?” Eager ears listen and expect answers like, “firefighter, dog walker, doctor, swimmer, teacher, etc.” It’s from an early age that we get fixated on a measure of success that has to do with our accomplishments rather than who we are as people.
When were you ever asked who you want to be? How do you want to show up in your life — for yourself and others? Do you want to be kind, respectful, generous for no reason, a good listener, supportive of those around you, loving, mindful, non-reactive? Would you like to have the inner power to pick yourself up after enduring unimaginable pain, to look around for rainbows instead of storm clouds, to be gentle with the suffering of others? To be non-judgmental? I heard former American vice president Joe Biden say that his mother said, “Courage is the virtue that made all the others possible.” I agree. I believe courage is a quality that constantly allows us to decide who we want to be instead of responding out of fear or pain.
It takes courage to love passionately, to open up to someone else and trust that giving your love to them won’t break you if it doesn’t end well. It takes courage to respond to hate with love. It takes courage to decide you will say something when you see a stranger being victimized for their gender, race or social beliefs. It takes courage to create change in your life and to make HUGE change in your community and globally. It takes courage to listen to your own intuition instead of being persuaded by social expectations or by what others think. It takes courage to choose who you want to be.
How do you want to be defined? Who around you do you admire? What traits do they possess that you would like to own yourself?
If we think about who we want to be, then we stop worrying about immediately gratifying outcomes and look at our lives as the day-to-day creation of our own legacies.
At any moment, YOU can choose to become anyone you want to be. At any point, YOU can change. You can decide to be kinder, to be willing to see someone else’s perspective. To be willing to demonstrate your capacity to change.
This week, challenge yourself. Answer these four questions. Put them on your bathroom mirror, in your wallet or at your desk at work. Anywhere that you will be receive the daily reminders:
1) What traits do you admire in others?
2) What traits do you already have that you’re proud of?
3) What do you want to be known for in this lifetime?
4) What trait are you going to work on building, starting today?Most importantly, share this with anyone in your life willing and curious enough to benefit from it.
I always love hearing from you. Feel free to share your stories.
Godspeed,
Noelle