“I don’t know if I would have started working out if I didn’t see you doing it every day.”
That’s what my son said to me a couple of weeks ago, and I can’t get it out of my head.
I have the pleasure of working out with my son a few days a week now, and I cherish it.
Even as I am being crushed by weight I never thought I’d lift again…I cherish it.
As a parent with “kids” around 20 years old, I know my time with them is going to become less, not more.
Every second I get with them, seems magnified in importance, and I truly love every moment I can sneak in.
But, here’s what sticks with me about what my son said…
People you love, and people you don’t even know are watching you all the time.
Even when you don’t think so.
I mean, I didn’t even realize my son was watching me all of those years.
I was just doing what I do.
Spending time each day intentionally working on my health.
I wasn’t necessarily even doing it for him.
But, my actions inspired him.
Although now, I absolutely DO have my children’s and grandchildren in mind when I work out.
Because I want to be present.
And healthy.
And full of energy and ability to be with them for as long as possible.
But, even when I thought it was just for me, my son saw me feeling good.
Looking good.
Having energy and ability that other fathers didn’t seem to have.
And it placed inside of his heart a desire to do the same.
Just like me, he doesn’t always like doing it.
Sometimes when we’re working out together, it just starts out as putting in the “grind.”
By the end, we’re always happy we’ve done it, but it’s not always the thing we’re most looking forward to.
The time with my son, I’ll go through any pain to get that for sure…
But, the pain is often just tolerated.
Not looked forward to.
A couple of things that you might be able to take from this.
First thing…
There are eyes on you all the time.
If somebody watched your day to day, would it inspire them to do or be a better version of themselves?
And second…
As people watch you become more, it gives them hope.
It allows them to borrow belief from your results until they can get their own.
My son has been able to see the fruits that lie ahead if he takes care of himself.
There was a tangible and visible result for him to pursue.
A future that he could already see, even when it wasn’t his own.
It opened up possibility for him.
Hope that if he did the same, his own future would be better.
So, not only are you inspiring people to become better versions of themselves when you are working on yourself…
But, you’re also painting a future for them of what life can be if they do the same.
You becoming better serves people.
Inspires people.
Gives hope.
Paints a better future that people can see.
And seeing it can give them belief, and hope, and energy to stay the path.
The borrowed belief you’re providing can be a powerful force.
Possibility is a driving force for success in anything.
Anticipation of the results you want is a major driver of consistency.
So, I will ask again…
If somebody was watching you today, and every day…
Would your actions be inspiring?
We won’t be at our best every day.
Or even from minute to minute.
But who we are becoming overall, is never a journey that nobody sees.
Somebody is watching.
Always.
And who you’re becoming, just might be silently dropping the seeds or greatness and possibility inside of somebody else at any moment.
It’s a humbling thought, right?
Maybe even a little daunting, knowing that our seemingly personal or private moments matter.
But, to me, it’s also really energizing knowing that just by becoming a better version of ourselves…
We are contributing to more than just ourselves.
Our good works, can and will produce good works in others.
And as that cycle continues, greatness can exponentially magnify.
And that, to me, is pretty exciting.
And, it inspires me to want to take the actions daily that might just inspire others.
How bout’ you?
Do you feel inspired by that too?
Nick Bramble
