Who are you imitating? And who's imitating you?

We become like the people with whom we spend time. Think about the people who go out and get the newest haircut, the skinny jeans, the blue hair, the nose piercing, the tribal tattoo, or whatever other thing that happens to be "in" at that moment.

And what about the people who go into debt to buy the Rolex watch, the Louis Vuitton handbag, the Christian Loubitan shoes or the Mercedes Benz? It's usually not that we consciously decide to be like someone else, but these types of things are often influenced by what the people around us are doing. "Everybody" wears skinny jeans, so we run out and buy skinny jeans --even those of us who have no business wearing skinny jeans. "All" of our friends drive Teslas so we long for the day when we too can buy one. And on and on it goes. But if we weren't around those people, would we really want those things? Would we wear those clothes? Would we run out and get that new hairstyle?

Our adaptation to the people around us doesn't end there. Many people tend to adopt the values and beliefs of the people who influence them. Your boss is Muslim so you begin to read the Quran. You go to your neighbor's "Crystal Party" where someone is going to tell everyone their future. Your co-worker rants about the politician he personally can't stand to the point that you begin to think he may be right.

Of course we want to be interested in the lives of others, but how many of us, over time, begin to adapt to the people around us? If you conform to others to the detriment of your authentic identity, you will miss your purpose, and those who need the influence and inspiration of the authentic YOU will miss out.

Instead of adapting to the point of conforming to others, let's do these things: Know who you are and what you stand for. Have a solid understanding of your values and beliefs (so that you don't sway with the wind).

Intentionally choose your mentors--good people who hold the values and beliefs that are important to you and who exemplify the character traits you want to have. If you will be the best example of your authentic self to everyone within your influence, you will be the light that shines brightly showing the way to others. When you have the courage to be your authentic self without being an inferior imitation of someone else, you will have the courage to step out and live your purpose. Living your purpose every day for the rest of your life is your antidote to depression, sadness, despair and all the problems that can be associated with those things. Living your purpose is real success, and it includes healthy relationships with good people, peace, joy, wellness, financial stability and a sense of contentedness that cannot be attained any way other than through living your purpose. So please listen every week as we continue to move toward finding and living the purpose for which you were born and perfectly matched.   

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