Photo Credit: Sergiu Bacioiu via Compfight cc
I woke up recently with the word “influences” floating around inside my mind. I had no idea why it was there and continued to watch its inward journey around and about, having no clue where it might come to rest.
Finally, in a small room at the back, where dust bunnies rule and brooms were outlawed years ago, the word settled onto a pile of discarded thoughts labeled “WARNINGS.”
This eventual landing pad led me to make associations with the new arrival and ponder the reasons for its migration to this dark corner.
I looked to the word itself—“influences.” An influence is anything which catalyzes action from something else. That action can be mental, physical, or spiritual in nature, and the catalyst can involve a belief, a motivation, an instruction, an experience, or anything which originates from outside an individual.
How can that be? It is because existence itself is a catalyst, a cause for influence on that which exists.
I thought about that statement. I asked, can anything exist which is not influenced by something outside of itself? Inorganic substances are affected by weather, man, and time. Therefore, influence comes through interaction with other elements.
Plants and animals are as they are because of natural influences causing adaptations for survival in their habitats. Man is no different than those on lesser levels of evolution. From the instant of conception, an animal begins the long process of dying, for each moment of the maturing process brings death closer. With the exception of a specific jellyfish, this is true of all animals; including man; at least as far as scientists know.
We each influence others with our daily lives; our words, our thoughts, and our deeds. In turn, we are influenced by those around us, whether we ever meet them or not, simply because of their actions, or words, or lives.
To live is to accept influence on our lives, for good or ill. We cannot be islands, remote from all others and their lives, regardless of our desires. It isn’t just telephones or televisions which make an impact on us.
Each breath we take is influenced by the world around us in how our bodies respond to the air inhaled. Everything we eat has an effect on us. We respond emotionally to things we hear and see.
When we recognize this fact, the imperative carried with that recognition begs us to accept the responsibility for each influence we provide for others and the world at large. We cannot blame others for our acts in this world. We choose to influence responsibly or not. In this case only conscience is involved.
Related articles
- Do It Yourself …the art of being a catalyst (heylouwrites.com)
- Being a Catalyst, IV (joyfullatinlearning.wordpress.com)
- Happiness in the Things? Its Happiness in the Thinks – Harmony In Thoughts, Words & Actions – Teaching Thinking In Schools, Colleges & Universities (wearetrulyhappy.wordpress.com)
- What is Influencing You? (realintent.org)
- You are the Architect of Your Life! (floatingfreedom.wordpress.com)
- Birds of a Feather & Other Animal References… (aseriousseason.com)
