How To Get Lit Up
Your personality has a volume setting.
It’s constantly being adjusted by the people you interact with.
There are three types of people playing with your volume settings:
1. Reducers turn your volume down.
They say things like:
“That idea will never work.”
“You’re too much.”
“Chill out.”
They make you less of yourself.
2. Supporters maintain your volume.
They say things like:
“Great idea!”
“You’re awesome.”
“Keep going.”
They make you stay the same.
3. Amplifiers turn your volume up.
They say things like:
“Omg, let’s make a plan for you right now!”
“Yes, AND you could also…”
“Let me connect you to someone who can help.”
They make you more of yourself.
How lit up you feel is directly affected by the amount of time you spend with each kind of person.
I used to think it was enough to avoid Reducers, and simply surround myself with Supporters to cheer me on.
But recently I’ve discovered that to live my fullest, highest potential life, I need the presence of Amplifiers who actively push me to the next level – without me even having to ask.
“The best way to light yourself up is to be close to someone who is on fire.” – Felicity Huffman
I’m suggesting you also get close to someone with a can of gasoline.
And if you’re lucky, you’re both on fire, and you both have gasoline.
Now it’s a limitless explosion.
Some notes for the Amplifiers of this world:
Even though you’re naturally motivated, you can’t perpetually self-ignite. Eventually, you’ll run out of fuel and burn out. Don’t wait for that to happen. Seek other Amplifiers now.
Occasionally, you'll encounter someone who doesn’t ignite, no matter how much gasoline you pour over them. If they don’t have at least a little spark, gasoline does nothing but create a wet mess. (Or to use my earlier analogy, you can’t turn up the volume when there’s nothing playing). As hard as it is to watch a sparkless friend struggle, you can’t create that spark for them. You have to let them find it on their own. So be their Supporter for now. Cheer them on. Be there. But stop trying to help them make things happen. You can’t Amplify until they find that spark of motivation within themselves first.
Who are the Amplifiers in your life?
Make a list. Reach out. Do it today.
