Will You Show Up, Uplift Others, and Lead by Example?

“Circumstances don't make the man, they only reveal him to himself.”

Epictetus

How will you and I choose to show up during these times...and what will be the effect of how we do so?

Three things came together that inspired me to write this post...

First, today I was watching the Your Greatest Opportunity Now 5-Day Challenge livestream by Eben Pagan, author of Opportunity: How to Win in Business and Create a Life You Love, and was struck by his comment about how right now will be “a defining moment in our lives” in terms of how we show up, and that...

We have a choice right now to become leaders (by example)…

Second, it made me think about something I heard from Allyson Scammell, a coach for spiritually oriented women entrepreneurs about how:

Our ability to manage our emotional state right now will determine our ability to inspire and lead others to becoming their best self during these challenging times…

…and then third... I was reminded of how each of us—regardless of our title or position in life— has the opportunity to inspire others simply by being our best selves…

...when I watched The Accidentals Daily Breather on Facebook at 12 ET. Since the Shelter in Place injunction started, they've been bringing this to their fans every weekday.

They are making the best of being “grounded” from touring by consciously putting out good into the world, and by using it as an opportunity to uplift others.

…Which makes me think: “How can we do the same--show up, bring our best selves to the world, and uplift others--in our own way?”

I bring up the Accidentals because they are, in my opinion, a great example of how bringing your best self into the world and overcoming obstacles can be a source of inspiration to others…without ever realizing that you are doing so.

Let me explain.

I saw them in concert for the first time 3 years ago, and was struck by their:

A) Amazing talent

B) Down-to-earth authenticity (e.g. “owning their nerdiness” as hardcore readers and being very shy)

 C) Willingness to endure the hardship of being on the road 250 days a year to follow their dream

D) Following their dream was bringing so much joy to others and beauty into the world.

I saw them again a year ago, and in this concert they told about having to deal with:

 A) having their trailer with much of their equipment stolen…and not having insurance to cover it (long story for another time)

B) after coming back from that, having their van totaled in what could have been a fatal accident…and still continuing on…bringing their music to the world.

Oh…and btw…Sav and Katie were both accepted by Berklee College of Music (Katie with a full scholarship) to follow their dream.

As I have thought about them over the last three years, I keep thinking about what my friend Krista Irmischer said years ago after seeing one of her favorite female musicians play in Portland, Maine “I’m so glad she never gave up on her dream. If she had…we never would have benefited from the beauty of her music.”

Let’s remember that as it relates to us and the challenges we face and the opportunities they present us to rise the occasion and be our best selves—in service of others—and perhaps inspire others, through our actions… to do the same.

And now...here's my favorite song of theirs: