Unlocking the Secret of Significance
By Michael J. Zappa, MD, FACEP
Dreams and aspirations come in many forms: from the drive to be the best at something, to lead a victorious team, to be a great parent, or to be that selfless, ever-reliable friend and humanitarian. Many people can check the box of some of these achievements, yet they may remain unfulfilled - reaching their goal did not transform them.
This illustrates that success is not enough; all individuals - from the bodacious dreamers, to the meticulous planners, and even the let’s roll with it, one day-at-a- timers, truly seek lives of significance. One way of looking at success and significance is picturing them as points along the same upward trajectory. A cursory conclusion might be that simply getting more successes under one’s belt pushes one further toward significance; this is not necessarily so. The secret that will propel an individual from simple success to significance is inspiration. Inspiration must be received and well as given.
Stop and think about something or someone that inspired you today, this week, or recently. If it took you more than 3 seconds, you can do with a little more inspiration in your life! Inspiration is what drives us; without it you are just checking things off from a never-ending list; you may feel trapped and wonder why you are doing these things at all.
In order to receive inspiration, you must open your eyes, your heart and your mind: take time to reflect and appreciate where you have been and where you now are. Recall individuals you admire, respect, look up to, or people or events that push you, whether through love or hard knocks.
It is equally important as you achieve success to serve as an inspiration to others. Reduced to its most basic elements, inspiration flows through words and actions. Every word you say, write, type, or text is forever; there is no such thing as “just words”.
They are very powerful, and never go away. Actions do speak even louder than words; it is very difficult to tune out someone’s actions. A simple rule for you to follow on your journey to success is be comfortable with all your actions being made public and subject to the scrutiny of those closest to you. Aligning your words and your deeds is a sure way of being an inspiration to your world – there are more people watching, listening, and remembering what you say and do than you often realize.
Living a life of significance, not simply success, guarantees the world is improved by your presence. Never losing sight of what and who inspires you, while recognizing your power to inspire others on your journey of success is what will bring significance to your life. Happy leading!