I was not expecting to be moved on such a deep level.
On a recent trip to a local thrift store, I picked up a copy of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” by Sean Covey. I’ve studied “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Sean’s father, Stephen Covey, and I was curious to see how Sean Covey presented these leadership principles to teens.
I was excited to find that Sean Covey had gone to great lengths to make the 7 habits relate to teens by discussing what matters most at that age: sex, friends, school, work, family relationships.
But, one of the things that struck me was Covey’s case for “beginning with the end in mind.”
When you’re a teenager, sometimes it’s really hard to begin with the end in mind because you’re more focused on the day-to-day things in life. Seeing yourself in 5 to 10 years is a challenge for many people, but for teens, it’s increasingly difficult. I would hazard to say that an alarming amount of teens don’t even know where they see themselves tomorrow.
As a part of the discussion, Covey asks the reader to fill out a personal discovery in preparation to write a personal mission statement. Covey asks questions such as “think of a person who has made a positive difference in your life,” and “List 10 things you love to do” and so on so the reader can get a sense of what they really care about.
Mind you, this is a second-hand book and this information had already been filled in by a young man named Derrick.
This is what really stopped me in my tracks:
One of the questions that Sean Covey asks was “Describe a time when you were deeply inspired.”
The question brought to my mind all of the people and things that have motivated me to accomplish my goals in my life. I thought of teachers that have really motivated me to achieve beyond what I was capable of doing. I thought of movies that I’ve watched that made me cry. I thought of people that are sick, but that fight each and every day to make the most of life.
Then I read what Derrick wrote in his book:
“I can’t really recall when somebody deeply inspired me.”
…
My heart sank. I read it again.
“I can’t really recall when somebody deeply inspired me.”
The power of those words made me stop and put the book down. In that moment, I was overcome with a tremendous sense of loss.
I thought, “Isn’t that sad that this young man has been so unaffected with life that all he could manage to write in his book was that he couldn’t remember when someone deeply inspired him?”
But his response was so true. So honest. So painfully honest.
And it got me to thinking, “how many other people must be feeling that exact same way right now?”
How many people out there aren’t “turned on” by life? How many people don’t have any great motivating force that is leading them to do great things and live a meaningful life?
I thought how incredibly empty those people must feel every day.
Truly, the empty life is a life without inspiration. The empty life is a life of guilt and shame from not accomplishing your dreams. The empty life is a living body with a hollowed out soul.
What fills that soul and makes it sing?
Inspiration.
Literally, taken from inspire, “to breathe.” The spirit is the animating principle, it’s what gets us to push ourselves to do more. When we’re inspired, we’re moved towards something we care about. We’re more connected to life. We’re enlivened, exalted.
Behold the power of inspiration.
When we surround ourselves with inspiring people, teachers, movies, music, art, books, and ideas we can create motivational momentum. It’s like adding fuel to the fire. The more fuel you have, the hotter and higher the fire will burn.
The empty life is truly a life devoid of inspiration. There is no fuel, no passion, so your fire is nothing more than a dim glow, or worse. That’s why it’s so important to find what moves you.
If you’re not inspired, the first thing you’ve got to do is find a way to get inspired. Find what inspires you in everything that you do.
What Derrick wrote in his book inspired me. It told me “there is a message here that people can benefit from.”
My wish is that you find similar inspiration, something that turns you on to life. I wish for you something that moves you to do great things with your talents and skills.
I wish for you a spirit moved.
