Six Degrees of Inspiration

Today I find myself thinking about inspiration, living "strong" and making a difference in both small and large ways.

Tomorrow, May 13th, is LIVESTRONG Day. LIVESTRONG Day is Lance Armstrong Foundation's one-day initiative to raise awareness and funds for the cancer fight.

You probably have heard of "Six Degrees of Separation" - the theory that we are all connected to one another. Six degrees of separation refers to the idea that, if a person is one step away from each person he or she knows and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people he or she knows, then everyone is an average of six "steps" away from each person on Earth.

Applying "Six Degrees of Separation" to the disease of cancer, it is certainly true that within 6 steps away from us, we each know someone who currently has cancer. Within 6 steps away from us, do we each know someone who is doing something to make a difference, someone who is doing something to find a cure? Are we that "someone"?

I happened to come across the term "Six Degrees of Inspiration" on one of my coaching forums. It takes the concept of "Six Degrees of Separation" one step further by noticing the direct and indirect impact we can have on one another. We can inspire one another by our actions.

Somewhat like the Butterfly Effect (which describes and demonstrates how an action as small as a butterfly flapping its wings can have a major impact on the world weather patterns), both the seemingly insignificant and significant actions we take can inspire others.

As we move through our lives, we may not realize the inspirational impact we are having on others, both those who know us and those who don't know us personally, but are watching, none the less, and noticing what we're about.

Lance Armstrong's Foundation is certainly inspirational. Almost everyone has either seen, or worn, one of the LIVESTRONG yellow baller bands. Not only did the yellow wristband idea (for both cancer awareness and fundraising efforts) catch on for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, other causes soon began to use the wristbands as well.

The following taken from Lance Armstrong's blog says it well:

"In essence, they show each of us that we can be active citizens, we can be proud of our life’s work, and each of us in our own very personal way can support the betterment of society. It is the essence of the word “community.” We are all part of something bigger. And we can band together to impact our world."

One of the posters at the 2008 Boston Marathon, which Lance Armstrong ran in a time of 2:50, showed pictures of Lance running along with the following:

"Whatever your 100% looks like, give it!"

How can our own individual 100% (whatever that is for each of us) support the betterment of society, impact community and allow us to be part of something bigger? When we do that, we are living strong.

If you knew that how you are living your life, the actions you take, the words you say to others, the choices you make, the causes you support, would impact people "Six Degrees of Separation" away, would you do anything differently?

What would you most like to inspire other people to do?