“The goal of many leaders is to get people to think more highly of the leader. The goal of a great leader is to help people to think more highly of themselves.” ~ J. Carla Nortcutt
While this quote by J. Carla Nortcutt is about leadership, it applies to so many other types of relationships, too. Whenever we meet someone new, start a new job, go to our first day of class, we often think, “I hope they like me.” It’s a natural human instinct to want others to think well of us, and at time it may cause us some stress and uneasiness. What if we could ease that stress by taking Nortcutt’s advice? What if we approached new relationships with the thought, “I want to help people feel good about themselves through their interaction with me?”
In recent weeks, I’ve been approaching some new interactions this way and the results are remarkable. I’m functioning with great fluidity, and the conversations get more in-depth more quickly. I wonder how many people go through their lives wondering if their thoughts and opinions are valued and valid? How many people truly feel that they are significant?
If there is anything that yoga has taught me, it’s the simple principle of “the light that is in me honors the light that is in you.” All of you. It’s how I close every one of my classes, and how I’m approaching every interaction. We’ll see if the magic of these words can become self-sustaining.
Christa Avampato 