We are constantly being influenced, whether we realise it or not – it may be an upsetting comment or feeling inspired by an act of kindness.
Influence is the impact people, events, ideas, sights and sounds have on us. It’s also how we impact others and situations. Do you lighten up the atmosphere or fill it with complaints?
Take a day and notice all the different things that influence you, small or big. What is the first thing that influences you? Waking up feeling tired or rested? Are you in a bad mood if you don’t have time for breakfast? The traffic? Someone offering you a seat on the bus? Looking up and seeing the sunrise? A genuine ‘good morning’ from a colleague? An encouraging word from a friend?
Now take another day to notice how you might be influencing others.
If we can’t avoid influence, then we need to learn to dance with influence; to choose which ones to dance with and which ones not to.
Sit quietly for a moment and step back from all the things that are influencing you. Here we can find the uninfluenced ‘me’. When we’re in this space, we can ask ourselves what we want to be influenced by and what we don’t want to be influenced by.
We may, for example, choose to allow our behaviour towards someone to be influenced by gossip or by our inner compassion. OK, maybe they are having a hard time right now. Is there something I can do to help rather than just make it worse by joining in with the gossip?
How about when you are feeling stressed? Do you add to your own stress by thinking, ‘I can’t handle this!’ or do you start thinking thoughts that will calm you down. ‘I’m at thinking and feeling being. I have a huge potential for calmness and kindness.’ or ‘I have an innate value and worth.’
When it come to influencing others, our intention behind our words and actions is the most important thing. You could ask yourself, ‘What energy do I want to share with others today?’ In challenging situations, ‘Do I want to become the drama queen or be able to stay calm and respond positively to the situation?’
The more we begin to understand how we are influenced and can influence, we empower ourselves to make better choices and determine the course of our lives.
