“The need to impress others causes half the world’s woes.” —Vernon Howard
More often than we would care to admit, the desire to impress others motivates our lives. This desire to impress others impacts the cars we drive, the clothes we wear, the technology we embrace, and the careers we choose.
Unfortunately, it is often elusive. Cars rust. Fashion changes. Technology advances. And the purchases that impressed your neighbor yesterday make no impression today. As a result, we live our lives with out-of-style clothes, jobs that we hate, skyrocketing personal debt, and jealousy towards our neighbor who seems to have it all… until that unquenchable desire to impress begs us to begin the cycle again.
The hard truth is we often look to impress others in all the wrong places.
Take a moment and identify the people in your life that truly impress you. What is it about their life that inspires you? Make a list. Very rarely (if ever) is it the car that they drive or the size of their home. Most often, the people that truly inspire us possess the invisible, intangible qualities that we all desire.
Consider this list of 15 Intangible, Surefire Ways to Impress Others:
1. Be Generous. Regularly give your time, energy, and money to others without expecting anything in return. The giving of your life to another is one of the most impressive things you can ever do.
2. Laugh Often. Be that person that routinely laughs at other’s jokes and stories. It concretely communicates that you enjoy life and their company. They’ll be impressed and you’ll be a more joyful person.
3. Be Optimistic. Always, always, always focus on the good aspects of people and situations. Sometimes you have to look harder than others, but you’ll always be glad you did.
4. Love Your Kids. And by love your kids, I mean genuinely like them too. Enjoy being with them, spending time with them, and investing in their lives. This love towards children will be evident in your life even when they aren’t around.
5. Be Faithful to Your Spouse. Marital fidelity is going out of style too quickly these days. Stay faithful to the one you chose. Trust me, your friends and colleagues will be impressed… not to mention your partner.
6. Develop Your Strengths. I am impressed by good singers, authors, writers, architects, speakers, CEO’s, computer programmers, mothers, and athletes (just to name a few). There is only one thing they all have in common: They discovered their strengths and developed them with great discipline. Do the same with your unique giftedness and temperament. And regardless of the profession you choose, you will impress.
7. Travel. See the world. You will change and be better because of it.
8. Appreciate Different Opinions. While there is nothing wrong with being dogmatic in your beliefs, a healthy appreciation of how others came to theirs is definitely an impressive quality.
9. Love Your Life. Don’t fall into the trap of living life like everyone else. Avoid television and consumerism. Embrace your passions and find enjoyment in your life. The people around you will be impressed… and jealous.
10. Encourage More. Living your life in competition with those around you will never impress. After all, everyone else is already doing that. Change the world by being different. Seek to encourage and lift up others. And the person who benefits the most just may be you.
11. Love Nature. People who exhibit care for the physical world around us exhibit care for all humanity.
12. Listen Intently. Eyes focused. Ears tuned. Cell phone off. In a world that can’t move fast enough, someone who can find time to listen is as rare as a precious jewel… and far more valuable.
13. Be Modest. You are special, unique, and gifted. And the less you make an effort to tell everyone that, the more they will notice.
14. Be Content. A contented life is enjoyable, desirable, and admirable. Those who don’t have it, desire it. And are impressed with those who have.
15. Don’t Live to Impress. Live to Inspire. Give up your desire to impress everyone you meet. But never give up your desire to inspire everyone you meet.
Of course, the greatest thing about this list is that you already possess everything you need to inspire others. So why not get started?
Stop trying to impress others with the things that you own and begin inspiring them by the way you live your life. (tweet that)
Thedebtfreeminimalist says
A great article J.B. I racked my brains to see if I could think of one more suggestion …..but no…..you’ve managed to sum it up comprehensively in 15 suggestions.
Since becoming a minimalist I’ve found that when you start to focus on improving your own life, in a bid to become a more contented, happy person then you will soon find that your friends and family are truly impressed by the changes you’ve made and unlike a brand new sports cars or latest handbag, they’ll probably keep on impressing way beyond the immediate future.
If you want to enjoy another inspiring blog about how to live a simple, frugal, debt-free, minimalist life then please check out the http://www.thedebtfreeminimalist.com.
My latest blogs include:
Are you a clutterist? Take the 5-a-day challenge (and i’m not talking fruit!)
The duvet which made a difference (a tale of giving)
Is the iPhone such a smart phone?
A tale of opportunity cost (and the effects of compound interest)
I don’t need much!
Ree says
You hit it out of the park AGAIN Joshua! Excellent!
Jennifer Campbell says
Awesome post. And while I agree with almost everything, I must say that different opinions cannot always be accepted (when it comes to decency and morals), but they can always be handled graciously.
alo says
So true….it’s a fine line!
Angelique says
I agree wholeheartedly with this wonderful list except for one, singular word. For #8, may I suggest using “firm” or “unwavering” concerning our beliefs as opposed to “dogmatic?” Dogmatic has such an arrogant, negative connotation. Someone who is dogmatic in their beliefs is going to have a very difficult time appreciating differing viewpoints. Just my .02
Matthew Vacca says
I have adopted many of these over the past year and I am amazed by the results.
I don’t have a spouse or kids, so I simply changed #4 and #5:
4. Love your family
5. Be faithful to your friends.
Dee Kohler says
Josh- are you a Christian? It sure sounds like it:)! I’m really enjoying this fresh perspective that really is part of me being a believer in Jesus and living differently than the world- people definitely do notice, and I also just love to purge! Advice about keepsakes, scrapbooks, that kind of thing?
Thanks!
Dee
Barbara says
I discovered this blog last week and dare I say it has been changing my life! This post is incredible. I agree and connect with everything on the list. My desire is to inspire and to have everyone in my circle develop this way of thinking as well. Thank you for doing this.
Paula Grieco says
Great list! Inspiring post. Thank you! Paula
MaryJoyce says
So moved by this list. Thank you! I’m a new reader and have been so impressed by your insight. As a stay at home mom, the list is especially a wonderful reminder of what is truly important. Blessings.
kathleen says
Fantastic list! Excited to spread the love with others in this post. Thanks.
Gurlal singh says
Yeah realy nice nd i was really very helpfull to improve my communication skills