Shaping

I've written a lot about the impact of mentors on my life - how they have shaped me.  

To be sure, we are we constantly being shaped (i.e., influenced) by the thinking, the behavior, the beliefs, and the modeling of valued others in our lives.  However, we are, at the same time, shaping (i.e., influencing) those around us.  

Shaping is a recursive exercise.  Our thinking, our espoused beliefs, our enacted beliefs, our biases, our level of enthusiasm, our service orientation, our etiquette, our speech, our empathy, our zealous pursuits, etc., are constantly impacting and "moving" those within our sphere of influence.

With that in mind, here's a powerful question to ask of ourselves:  
Am I shaping others in a way that improves their lives?

If the answer to that question is "no," then it's time for some reflective personal recalibration.