Each of us can make a positive difference if we commit to do so – Cornel West
Your Impact Matters
Do you know that your life is impactful? Many of us would probably reply no to this question. We look at our lives and how little progress we are making or if we are making any at all. Selling ourselves short of what we are doing or capable of doing is mainly an effect of the comparison trap. There are always others who are better, wealthier, healthier, fitter, and wiser. That should not minimize our impact in our spheres, regardless of size. While the comparison trap makes us wonder what difference we could make, having confidence releases us from the trap and reminds us that a bit of light shining in a dark place has a profound effect.
Recognize
Asking the ‘how question’ begins with recognizing the lasting impression we can make. It eliminates selfishness by allowing us to consider the people around us and how what we say and do will impact their lives. In your sphere of influence, your words, actions, and decisions are the seeds that can bring out the best of the people around you. I’ve labeled myself as my home’s Chief Encouragement Officer (CEO). It’s a title I want to live out daily. Encouragement is like oxygen. We thrive with it and die without it. I realize that my impact comes through encouragement, and I want to fuel my spheres with it as much as possible.
Encouragement is like oxygen. We thrive with it and die without it.
Our words, actions, and decisions are not mere expressions of ourselves. They can uplift, inspire, and motivate others or hurt, discourage, and dishearten them. The table below shows the different inputs in our spheres and their respective effects.
| Input | Output (positive or negative) |
| Words | Build up or tear down others. Encourage or discourage. Inspire or demoralize. Create a positive or negative atmosphere. |
| Actions | Set a good or bad example. Help or harm others. Show love and support or indifference and neglect. Create a sense of community or isolation. |
| Decisions | Impact the lives of others in positive or negative ways. Create opportunities or break barriers for others. Shape the culture and values of our areas of influence. Determine the future of our spheres. |
Commit
Recognition should be followed with the commitment to impact our spheres positively. The name Floyd Martin may not be immediately recognizable, but to the residents of a community in Marietta, GA, it carries significant weight. Martin was a mailman for 35 years. Aside from the mail, he delivered smiles to the residents, treats to the dogs and cats, and lollipops to the kids. Martin also delivered the mail and newspaper to the door so the elderly wouldn’t have to walk to their mailbox at the end of the driveway. He would put $20 in the mailbox when one of the kids graduated. He even found time to bring the mail inside and have a short visit with a sleep-deprived mom juggling laundry and diapers. Martin found a way to weave acts of kindness into his daily work, positively impacting a community. His impact was so felt that when he retired, the neighbors along his mail route threw a block party on his last day of work to thank him. That’s not all; when the neighborhood discovered Martin’s dream vacation was to go to Hawaii, they started a GoFundMe to foot the bill. When Delta Airlines heard about it, they decided to pay for his flight to his dream vacation. Martin reminds us that the impact in our spheres does not have to be big to be felt or noticed; it just has to be consistent and meaningful.
Impact in our spheres does not have to be big to be felt or noticed; it just has to be consistent and meaningful.
Final Thought: It is crucial to consistently ask ourselves the “how” question. Recognize the impact of your words, actions, and decisions and the ripple effects that extend far beyond your spheres of influence. This understanding should foster a sense of responsibility, motivate us to be more mindful, and inspire us to strive to use our words, actions, and decisions to create a healthy environment.
Keep on keeping on!
Notes
1.”Marietta mailman ‘Floyd Martin’ is delivering smiles all around the world.” Accessed on April 13, 2024 at: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ajc.com/news/marietta-mailman-floyd-delivering-smiles-around-the-world/FaEAgDLkL7OQYmnCOm8MTN/amp.html
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