The Art of Inspiration
Notes on Influence
Deep Life Notes | Influence
The people who inspire us are often the ones who trust us, respect us, and help us think differently.
My English teacher, Mrs. Botel, once asked my class: “Have you realised yet that your parents aren’t flawless?” This wasn’t the type of honest adult wisdom a class of fourteen-year-olds were used to receiving. (I hadn’t for the record). Mrs. Botel was like that. Her physical nature may have been unassuming, but her words carried weight. She loved books and stories, and her insights helped me see the world in a new light.
Once in class, I submitted a book review of Richard Bachman’s The Running Man. Except it wasn’t so much a review as a comprehensive description of the plot, an eight-page blow by blow account. I thought it was great. Mrs. Botel handed back my (ungraded) paper with a kind smile and said, “This is a great review of what happened, but I want you to tell me how it made you think and feel. Why don’t you try again?” I did, and it’s a lesson I’ve never forgotten, one of the many gifts from Mrs. Botel.
In this era of relentless information and hyperconnectivity, where we have round-the-clock digital access to the lives of countless strangers and influencers, we invariably still gravitate towards those people and stories that inspire us. And often it’s not those with charisma, money, or status. Instead, it’s the people who believe in us and stand by us. Those who inspire by their actions and approach to life.
Inspiration is not always grand or theatrical.
Often it is slower, steadier and more available to us than we realise.
What inspiration really means
The word ‘inspire’ traces its roots back to the Latin ‘inspirare’, which means “to breathe or blow into.” Much of the word’s early use had religious connotations and shared an origin with ‘spirit’. The word can be linked to the act of giving or breathing life [into others].
When we think of figures who inspire us, there are obvious examples from the world of sports, business, and entertainment. From the vantage point of our everyday, seemingly ordinary lives, it’s easy to feel inspired by these figures who have performed remarkable physical feats, revolutionised industries, and created incredible bodies of artistic work. And from that same perspective, it’s easy for us to think, how am I supposed to inspire someone else?
The problem is that too often, we equate being inspirational with being charismatic; as if it requires some mysterious “it” quality. This is a misconception. While there are certainly some individuals who embody both charisma and inspiration, charisma alone doesn’t equate to being inspiring. Nor does being popular.
Being a source of inspiration to others is not usually about status, validation, or having a large audience. Rather, it’s often found in the way someone lives, the faith they place in others, and the example they set.
Those who genuinely inspire don’t require thousands of social media followers, a lengthy list of credentials, or a specific physical or emotional quality. It’s their essence and actions that inspire. That is probably closer to what inspiration really is: less performance and more presence; less charisma and more character.
Three qualities seem to matter most: modelling positive behaviours, trusting people, and making genuine connections.
#1 The example we set
The example we set matters because influence is often moulded from within. Stephen M. R. Covey, in his book Trust & Inspire, identified three pairs of attributes central to this idea: humility & courage; authenticity & vulnerability; and empathy & performance.
John McAvoy’s story offers a powerful example of these qualities. In 2006, a British court sentenced McAvoy, then a member of one of the country’s most notorious crime families, to ten years in a high-security prison for armed robbery. While imprisoned, McAvoy began a dramatic path of redemption through an intense fitness regime, breaking British and world records on a prison rowing machine. He owes much of his redemption to a prison guard called Darren, who helped nurture his talent and become the male mentor he never had, a fact he consistently credits in his interviews.
Today, as a Nike-sponsored Ironman triathlete, McAvoy spends much of his life inspiring and mentoring young people from disadvantaged backgrounds like the one he experienced. He speaks openly about the shame of his past actions and his desire to do something useful with what happened. He embodies the principle of doing good in life, not despite his past, but because of it.
#2 The trust we give
Trust can be rare, and for that reason it can have an unusual force. Recall a time when someone trusted in you, perhaps even more than you believed in yourself. Someone who saw your potential and took a chance on you.
Richard Adams’ 1972 novel, Watership Down, is a beautiful example of this kind of trust. The main character, Hazel, is not the largest or strongest rabbit in the warren, but he becomes the one the others follow. His gift is his ability to see what’s inside the others, like Bigwig’s courage, Blackberry’s intelligence, Fiver’s prophetic instinct, and Dandelion’s speed. He knows when to lead, when to listen, and when to let another rabbit step forward.
That is what makes Hazel such a brilliant leader. He doesn’t diminish the others by needing to be everything himself. He trusts them, and in doing so, helps them become more fully themselves. The warren survives and finds its new home because Hazel understands the strength of the many. The tale of the warren is the tale of humanity, even amid the cruelty and brutality.
It’s worth remembering the people who believed in us, especially when we have the chance to offer that same trust to someone else. Belief in another person’s potential can change more than we might know at the time.
#3 The connections we make
The impact of someone who is humble, genuine, and extends trust can be considerable. But by adding the third and final quality—making genuine connections with others—the picture becomes more complete. Because when we invest our time and energy into understanding and empathising with someone, they feel we have their best interests at heart.
Priti Patkar is the co-founder of Prerana. She dedicates herself to end the destructive cycle of intergenerational prostitution and combat human trafficking in Mumbai’s red-light areas, which affects up to 30,000 women. Patkar’s ability to connect deeply with these women, understand their hardships and fears, and speak for them, sits at the heart of her work.
Patkar takes as a starting point the needs of these women; their pride, fears, and risk of losing custody of their children. After a year of getting to know and becoming accepted in the Hamathipura red-light district and seeking the opinions of 500 women living and working there, she started a night-care programme to look after their children while they work. This has been a 30-year journey, marked by many challenges, but Patkar is credited with pioneering work that has changed lives. Much of this seems to come from her ability to connect with those she most wants to help.
Genuine connection can do more than inspire. In the right hands, it can change the conditions of someone’s life.
A virtuous circle
Inspiration does not require fame, fortune, or a force of nature personality. It is found in who we are and reflected in what we do. Sometimes the most inspiring act can be as simple as helping someone see the path that gets them closer to where they want to go.
Perhaps one of the best compliments to receive in life is, “You inspire me.” Knowing we have helped someone can deepen our own sense of purpose. As Covey observed in Trust & Inspire, “Someone who might think they mean nothing to the world may very well mean the world to someone.” I think that encapsulates the essence of inspiration.
When I think back to Mrs. Botel, I think of attention, honesty, kindness, and her belief that I could do much better than rehash the story of a book I enjoyed.
That, more than anything, is what I remember: someone paying attention and expecting more from me.
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