Power of One

It doesn’t happen very often, but its affect is powerful. It tends to brighten our days and make things seem a bit easier. Some of us are on the giving side, more often than we are on the receiving side, but it happens nonetheless. It takes place when you read a “good morning” text on your phone before heading to work or when you get a “just thinking about you call,” at one of your low points. Maybe it’s a surprise package in the mail, flowers when you get home or a surprise weekend getaway. If you haven’t figured it out yet, it is the “power of one.”

The “power of one,” is a single action that causes an individual to feel, think and/or act differently based on receiving something encouraging. That may not have been the intent of the giver, but that’s how the action was received. This action that was done has now enabled the recipient to look at the glass half full, even if it is only for a moment. They start to feel differently because someone has taken the time to show them that they are relevant.

We all have the “power of one.” Every time we smile at someone, give a hug, play with a child or call a friend, we are telling them that we find them important enough to think about and interact with. It is not our place to decide when a person can be happy or sad, but it is our duty to ensure we leave positive memories with them. Whether we want to admit it or not, we have the ability to influence feelings. A teachers’ attention to a student may be all they need to pass a class, since no one has time for them at home. A nurses’ care with a patient may be the deciding factor between life and death, as no family members visit. A kind word in the business world could be the deciding factor for an employee who was thinking about “going postal” or seeing a therapist. We never know where our actions will lead people, but if we act with good intentions, I’m sure they’ll go a long way.



* Thanks for being my “power of one” this morning, I hope you feel better.