Sometimes my local walks get complicated. Casey, a longtime neighbour and friend, was washing his car and enjoying the sunshine in no particular order as I approached.
“How you doin?” began a 45-minute catch-up conversation. When I asked about special plans for the summer, he mentioned that he was going to spend three weeks hiking the middle section of Sweden’s King’s Trail, or Kungsleden.
His excitement was clear, but he shared the details of this extraordinary hike in a casual manner.
“Yes, it’s above the Arctic Circle, but in summer it’s doable. I’ll be climbing the tallest mountain in Sweden, Kebnekaise, while I’m there. There are some huts along the way, but not everywhere. Not all the rivers will have bridges. Yes it’s remote, but the trail passes through some small villages where I can resupply. I’ll be doing Kilarney’s 78 kilometre LaCloche Silhouette backcountry trail in July as a warm-up.”
Until I asked, Casey had failed to mention that he was doing both hikes solo, totally alone and unsupported.
As I continued my walk, Casey’s trip and the way he presented it stuck with me. What he was attempting was adventurous, not without risk, and would fulfill a hiking passion he’d nurtured since his youth. The fact that he discussed the trip without even a touch of, “Hey, look at me,” was compelling and inspiring.
Who do you think of as “inspiring?” Is it someone who has achieved significant celebrity, wealth, or power? A favourite influencer? Is it someone with extraordinary humanitarian accomplishments through charity, by making gender or cultural strides, or doing environmental work?
That’s the thing about inspiration, it is different for everyone. What inspires one may hold no relevance for another. How we each inspire others is different too. Donald Trump is hugely inspirational in polar opposite ways—for every person that emulates his behavior in hope of achieving power and celebrity, there are those who witness his antics and diligently choose to do the exact opposite.
So how do we inspire others? If one removes inspiration designed to provide extreme wealth, celebrity or power from consideration, the characteristics that Casey showed during our chat are recognized as the most common attributes of those that inspire us.
Be true to yourself, unafraid to express your enthusiasm
Stick with what you love, for others’ sake. Your honesty and passion will shine through, others will see you excel at what you do and be curious to find out why you love what you’re doing so much.
Act upon what you say is important to you. Walk the talk, practice what you preach (better yet, don’t preach), be the change you want to see —clichés abound.
To be inspiring, people around you must believe that if you feel strongly about something, you’ll act accordingly. Remember your Grandma’s admonishing, “Actions speak louder than words.”
Be true to yourself, unafraid to express your enthusiasm. The courage required to live your own life without concern about how others perceive you implies a strength and awareness that is inspiring, and need not have an opinion or manipulative goal attached.
Dependability and commitment speak to character. If you say you’ll do something, do it. If you tell people you believe in an idea or principle, mean it. Being close to those that keep their promises and tell the truth inspires us—mystery and false fronts do not.
Share success and failure equally and honestly, yet focus on the positive. Wisdom and vulnerability are powerful forces when combined, and are universal in their ability to foster inspiring relationships when discussed honestly.
Make people feel good about themselves. We so often overlook this when we forget it’s not about us, but about others. Someone who makes us feel well and happy about ourselves doesn’t concentrate on past mistakes or failings, and will always inspire us to do likewise.
Listen intently to what others are saying. Attentiveness makes people feel important, and slowing down to engage another will be appreciated whether they are family or strangers. Recognizing value in others is inspiring. Theodore Roosevelt understood, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Articulate what others are thinking, and but may not say. Your strength and willingness to speak up regardless of risk will inspire others and give them courage.
Stay cool and level-headed when the going gets rough. Your ability to confront and handle high-pressure situations when others may flounder is a trait that most people will find inspiring.
Being inspiring is not about telling others how to change or what to do. In a world full of charlatans and corporations trying to inspire—read “coerce”— us to drive a certain car, use a new platform, or follow a political persuasion, isn’t it thrilling to know that simply by being happy with who we are, being caring and enthusiastic, that we can be truly inspiring to those around us.
