“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.“
When we think of a favorite quote, we often find particular places, situations, events and life phases where it resonates again and again.
This is one of those quotes.
As I get older and look back on the journey that brought me to this moment, I see constant reminders of how true this quote is. From the student that writes me a short email at the end of a semester thanking me for my energy as a teacher to the client that thanks me for being a good listener and helping her to feel confident and equip to make and reach her goals, I am aware of Miss Angelou’s wonderful words and amazing spirit.
You can look at this quote in both a positive light and negative light and get the same results. Think of your own life and who affected your feelings towards them and especially towards yourself. Who are the ones that made you feel empowered, confident, whole, heard, smart, worthy, happy? How can you pass it to others and when they look back, help them feel good about having known you even for a short time?
If you look at the quote from the negative perspective: how did someone make you feel like a victim, out-of-control, stupid, invisible, scared or angry, you will feel blame, guilt and maybe even regret. Look again. Can you find something in that person that made you push forward and past it? Somehow what they said made you determined to become better or to prove to them that you were not a failure in their eyes, or maybe it directed you to speak out and be the voice for others. And maybe, somehow, you got here with absolute determination for yourself. If you’re not there yet, take some time and look again. Can you see the importance of that time?
We are all in charge of our own feelings in the end, but the people who come into our life may have a purpose for us in helping us become the best possible version of ourselves.
Be the reflection you would love to see again in others.
Thank you, Miss Angelou.
Vanderslice Coaching 