Lead and teach by example

Yoga is amazing. You should really get into it. 
I do it this way and you should too. 
This diet really worked for me. You should try it. 
Why do we pressure others into believing what we believe? Why can’t we simply be the example, and lead and teach that way, instead of forcing every opinion we have on others?

I know that when I read a really great book, I try to tell everyone that they should read it too. But I have to remember, the way the book spoke to me at that time won’t necessarily speak to someone else that way. Imagine two people watching a documentary about true enlightenment. While there might be one that dismisses it as hogwash, the other might take it all on board.

Instead of trying to force our opinions or ideas on others, why can’t we try a different approach – by being the example ourselves?

About a year ago, a good friend told me all about the no sugar plan she’d factored into her life, and how great she was feeling because of it. I remember dismissing that idea at the time. I mean, how could I possibly give up sugar? I was drinking five cups of coffee a day (gasp), each with two heaped teaspoons of sugar (double gasp), enjoying muesli with vanilla yoghurt for breakfast, banana bread for a snack and a bowl of pasta at night. And yet I thought she was the crazy one. How wrong I was at that time.

We can be told the same advice five times over and not really hear it. When you’re ready for that change though, you hear the advice loud and clear. It took me a year to understand why my friend was limiting the amount of sugar she was consuming but, after seeing first-hand the changes she’d made – her skin was glowing, she had more energy and was a lot more positive in general – I could no longer ignore it. Without trying to tell me this was a great idea that I needed to implement in my own life, she was simply teaching by example. Once I had changed my way of thinking, I approached her and asked her all about the changes she’d made. By seeing how many positive changes she’d made convinced me to take those steps as well.

I recently watched the movie ‘You can heal your life’ by Louise Hay and she talks a lot about this topic. Teach by example is something she has surely implemented into her own life. By making positive changes herself, others have seen the results first hand and wanted to achieve the same. She hasn’t pulled anyone aside that didn’t want to be there, and forced her opinions on them. She’s taught and led by example and they’ve come to her seeking more information.

Take comfort in knowing that when you’re ready to make a change, you will. And then it’s up to you to lead and teach by example.

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