5 Minute Hero
March 17, 2010 at 7:09 pm 2 comments
I recently issued a challenge for those who would dare, to practice being an inspirational hero to someone else for just five minutes per day. If (and when) you are familiar with the seven principles of inspiration, its really easy to choose one principle per day to practice for five minutes.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.”
We are not looking for Captain America here. We are looking for ordinary people to be an inspirational hero to someone everyday for five minutes. We will then gather, compile, and publish the stories. Your stories.
Example, last night I practiced the principle of “See in others the abilities they don’t see in themselves.” The core of this great truth is about affirmation. Here’s what happened. My wife has always been paranoid about her cooking and therefore really reluctant to cook for other people. But, lately she has been super passionate about cooking a large variety of low-carb, really yummy dishes. My favorites being her zuchinni lasagna and her cheese-cake! It’s really unbelieveable for supposedly being so low in carbs. So, I paused long enough to get her total attention and said, “I appreciate so much how you have turned into the amazing cook. You have undersold yourself to this point. You are truly a good cook.”
Her response? She thought I was reading some text message from one of my daughters, as if they were referencing me and my cooking. When she finally caught on that she was the object of my affirmation, I cannot begin to tell you about the satisfying smile that came across her face. Less than 5 minutes, one principle, one really big smile.
O.K. Your turn!
Download the principles if you don’t have the book. Post them in your work space. Pick one and practice it today. Let us know what happens because I am confident it will be good.
Keep inspiring!
Entry filed under: Uncategorized. Tags: 5 Minute Inspirational Hero.
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dbroward | March 17, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Emerson remains the uniquely American voice of entrepreneurs and iconoclasts. I think this is an excellent example of the practical benefit of disruptive thinking.
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bhowell | March 25, 2010 at 7:59 pm
You know, I took this to heart, and turns out, in my five minutes of being “an inspirational hero” I made a decision that will impact the rest of my life, and that of my husband’s too. I decided that for five minutes I was going to totally absolve the past by way of grace. It has taken me nearly two years to do this. But I did it. And in those five minutes, I opened my eyes and was able to see how I could make something beautiful out of a lot of ugliness. This gave me a brand new sense of purpose with regards to my marriage, and never would have happened if I hadn’t made a conscious decision to only for a few minutes look all his faults and in the face and love him regardless.