Influential People

            When you think of influential people, who comes to mind? George Washington, Charles Darwin, Sigmund Freud, or others from our history? Or are they current pioneers, artists, athletes, leaders? Are they the top 10 most powerful women? Or do you think of the most influential people in technology?

            When you see a quote or recommendation from these individuals, you tend to listen because of who they are. The people in these positions have a lot of power to influence others, for good or bad. But that isn’t what this is about; it’s about you. I know what you’re thinking, influential people are extreme, once-in-a-lifetime individuals who have had a significant impact on the world. I’m sorry, but Superman and Batman are not real. Ok – maybe they are for people like me.

The truth is, to make an impact on the world, you don’t have to be a Thomas Edison, a Steve Jobs, or Oprah Winfrey. You don’t even have to influence thousands of people directly. Just a handful can make a huge difference. All the people I’ve listed here made a difference, and you can too! Not only can you make a difference, but you’ve also had a far greater impact on many more people than you realize. Think about it. When one person influences a few others, over time, these individuals, in turn, are like ripples in water and end up impacting thousands of people over generations.

            Have you ever thrown a stone into a pond? As soon the stone hits the water, a ripple effect begins its journey away from the place where the two surfaces first contact. I picture influence having this same effect. When wisdom hits our consciousness, we get insight into how to ethically and skillfully use what we know. It has a ripple effect in our lives and the lives with whom we chose to share it. For me, wisdom includes being rational, ethical, and mindful. The ripples represent the influence and effect of wisdom in our hearts and minds; those ripples influence the hearts and minds of others.

            Wisdom changes things because understanding helps us get a true insight into the nature of things. We see the bigger picture, the different relationships, and what all of it means. If we want a better life for ourselves and a better world, we need more than knowledge. We need to know how to use that knowledge ethically and skillfully. That is what wisdom is – the ethical and skillful application of knowledge. It becomes influence when applied to expanding and deepening the awareness of the union and interconnection of all things.

            Your experiences and values are just as significant and useful to others as any influential hero you may have. You don’t have to be a scholar, survivor, athlete, or even a determined person with disabilities.

My point is, we’re human, and most of us are social by nature. You have no idea how many people you can influence just by sharing your own experiences and insights. It’s a far more generous thing than any material gift you can ever give. Each of us can do great things – even if it’s for a short time. It’s the impact of those actions and what we say and do that reach far beyond our circle of people.

— SP