Whatever challenges you face in life, whether addiction, mental health issues, or anything else, the reasons for overcoming them are probably obvious to you. You want to be free and strong. You don’t want to suffer for no reason. You want to live a more fulfilling life. However, there is another reason many people never think of: you can inspire others with your example.
This may strike you as either obvious or absurd. If you’re a parent, for example, it may seem obvious to you that your kids will learn from your example. They’re always watching and what you do will form the basis of their assumptions about how to act. However, the idea that you can inspire others may also strike you as absurd. Addiction issues and mental health issues don’t exactly inflate your self-esteem. Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness are common among people with substance use disorders or depression. It’s also easy to become so preoccupied with your own misery that you don’t give much thought to what others think at all.
Or, you may feel like it’s a bit arrogant to think you can inspire others with your actions, since you’re just an ordinary guy. But the fact is that anyone can inspire others by doing inspirational things. In fact, being ordinary only makes you more inspiring. People look at you and think, “If he can do it, I can do it.” What it is, exactly, doesn’t matter much. Maybe you admitted you have a substance use problem and sought treatment. That might not seem to have much resonance beyond your immediate circle, but you never know. Some colleague or other acquaintance might see that you had the courage to get help and feel emboldened to seek help himself.
The closer people are to you, the more likely you are to inspire them. People often say they’re inspired by athletes, leaders, or entrepreneurs, but those role models are far away. People like LeBron James or Elon Musk may do great things, but they don’t necessarily make us feel like we can do great things. However, when someone close to you does something good, it feels like you can do it too. Your friend, your brother, your classmate did something great, and now it seems real and attainable. The people around us have much more influence on what we believe is possible in life than people on TV.
What that means for you is that it’s not only your success at stake. Your brothers are watching you, just like you’re watching them. Every time you succeed in ways big or small, they feel like they can do it too. Everything you do contributes to the dynamic of your own little culture. Showing support for a brother, putting in that extra effort at the gym, refusing to give up will be noticed. Even if you think you aren’t the guy people look to, your actions make a difference.
If you’ve been struggling with drugs or alcohol, we can help you build a better life. At Tree House Recovery in Orange County, California, we’re helping men create the sustainable changes necessary to build a sustainable recovery. Call us today for information: (855) 202-2138