Photo and blog by Sharman Dow
How do you determine if someone has relevancy? Being relevant means having significance. It implies there is a clear and concise impression you leave with others on matters at hand. You are an influencer. You are a shaper. Your voice goes beyond the boundaries of your friends and neighbors.
How about you? Is your voice relevant? Do you give purpose and meaning to the moment you are living? Do you add value to your friends and business associates?
And now, let’s look at this from a different perspective. How about you influencing the next generation of women? Do you think that is possible? This is real relevancy!
Leaving a legacy for others to follow that exhibits more noble qualities adds relevancy to your life. I’m talking about qualities that are genuine, like: integrity, purity, honesty, loyalty and decency. Are you a person who lives by your principles? Have you set for yourself a code of ethics to live by? If not, why not start today and set a standard for living your life? Become a person who lives by your principles to create relevance.
Eric Liddell
I love the story of Eric Liddell as portrayed in the movie Chariots of Fire. At the 1924 Olympics he was faced with a choice to run in the race he had trained for, but it was scheduled on Sunday. He was Britain’s hope to win a gold medal for his heat, the 100-meters. However, he was a devout Christian, and for him, running on Sunday was going against his religious convictions. Although he had trained for years to run in this event, he refused to run on Sunday based upon his personal convictions.
Even the Prince of Wales could not convince him to run on Sunday. WOW, talk about peer pressure!! Do you think you would be able to say “no” to the future King of England?
So to comply with his convictions they rescheduled him to run in the 400-meter race, the next day. There was not much hope in him winning this race because he had not practiced for this longer race. However, Eric’s passion and faith carried him, as he won the gold metal for Britain that year.
What a remarkable story of relevance and leaving a legacy for future generations. Nearly 60 years later the movie portrayed his story. And what a story – now that is relevance!!
What peace of mind is gained when we live by our principles and personal convictions? It makes being decisive and able to make tough decisions so much easier when we know who we are before God and the person in the mirror. When you live this way, you create relevance to change your world.
You just might have more of an impact in your sphere of influence with qualities that are noble and pure, and in doing so become relevant. Your actions speak volumes on whom you really are to others. Are you realizing how much of an impact you can have on others by the things you say? Or, the actions you take?
Relevancy includes everything about you! How you dress, how you behave, how you talk, how you act, how you think. Yes, relevancy starts with your mind and controlling your negative thoughts. Twist your thinking and break out of any negative patterns of behavior.
Do a self-assessment of your life. If you were to meet yourself for the very first time, would you be impressed? Would you hire you for your dream job? Would you leave yourself with a positive imprint for that girl in the mirror?
In order to become relevant you must first believe you can. I once heard someone say: you will never become the person you need to be, until you are first willing to leave the person you are. Every journey starts with a step. For some, that might be baby steps, but it is possible to start changing.
Begin today by setting for yourself a code of ethics to live by. Are you undivided in your actions or thoughts? Having a firm foundation of something to stand on to build your life around influences people and can change your world. Are you capable of presenting your life to others as a standard for them to follow?
Let’s do it with your character and having integrity. You have an opportunity to influence the next generation and become relevant today! You don’t need to compromise your value as a woman. In fact, you can raise the bar and change your world by setting new criteria for others to follow.
Do you think you are capable of making this happen? I say, yes! You can!
Sharman Dow is the founder of the Empower Women’s Conference, coming October 22nd to Orange County. Register today!
