One of my true passions is to be an inspiration to those around me. To spark a burning fire within others and create a ripple effect of inspiration. If through my actions I can have an effect on just one person, then I have been successful and grateful.
While many of us look to outside sources in order to gain inspiration, such as self-help books, speeches and conferences, I like to strive through my actions to inspire others that work and live around me to be the best that they can be at whatever that may be. We don’t always need to look to frilly speeches, quotes, actions of what we call the gurus of inspiration. We each hold the ability to inspire others with just our actions, how we live our day to day life.
Now that is exciting and just thinking about it makes my heart smile!
Now, I don’t want to candy coat this, because acting like this exuberance of inspiration is always easy would be a lie! The truth is that sometimes finding the energy to be an inspiration is tough and more times than not even draining, especially to my introverted personality! During down or tough days, which we all have, it is so hard to act in accordance to providing inspiration to others. None the less, I am always consciously working on my actions in order to inspire others and this always turns my frown upside down.
There is an old saying that states that people don’t care about what you know, until you have shown and proven yourself by showing them just how much you care! When individuals around you feel as though you truly care and are invested in them and their life, their progress, struggles, joys, etc. they are more willing to accept you and the encouragement that you have to offer.
I have found that today in society, this has been hard. I care so much and encourage, but often to no avail. People don’t always appreciate the support and encouragement or they don’t reciprocate it, but that is ok, love and encourage anyway... eventually, the shell will crack and always remember that your rewards will not be here in this lifetime, but in heaven. That thought gets me through my days, more times then not. 
People don’t always appreciate encouragement or reciprocate it, but that is ok: love and encourage, anyway!
Another thing that I have always striven to portray to others is walking the walk. A huge pet peeve of mine is someone saying something, promising something, but never following through. It is a huge let down and disappointment to me. I am not perfect, by any stretch of the imagination, but I do try my darnedest to walk the walk through my actions and showing that if I am willing to say it or promise it that I am going to try my very best to follow through.
I pray every day that I am able to inspire through my actions and that what I say shines through by how I live my life.
Finally, active listening is huge and goes hand to hand with inspiring others. Today so many people are excellent speakers, talkers and story tellers, but how many people do you know truly know how to be active listeners? Not many, which is truly sad and sometimes disheartening. All too often people love to hear themselves talk, love to talk about themselves and what is happening in their life. All too often we forget that our life is not the only one occurring in real time.
The world is full of hurting people, people that just need someone to listen, to care and show them that they are okay and they will get through the situation that they are going through. People that feel heard and understood will grow and be inspired much more than an individual that doesn’t feel understood.
There is always something to be learned and a way to inspire others in and through every interaction that you face on a daily basis, don’t let theses opportunities to learn and inspire pass you by. Remain truthful and honest and try today to serve as motivation for others to not give up, to keep going, to seek out personal truth and growth and live their lives to the fullest! We are all facing battles in our life, why not ban together and fight them as one team!
Let's Love More!
Alissa Nelms
