Become Less Impressed & More Engaged

I heard Mathew McConaughey say this recently and it was like I had been waiting to hear it for the longest time.

Become less impressed and more engaged.

For much of my life I have been way too impressed and far less engaged because of it.

Whether that was when I was too impressed with those I used to play football with (or soccer for you Americans), or later when I was far too impressed with hippies with long hair, yogis with flexible bodies, rich people with money, travelling nomads with freedom, dancers dancing, chefs cooking, speakers speaking… or the multitude of other people I could name.

Being Inspired Is Different From Being Impressed

Much of the me that was impressed was actually just inspired, but hidden behind the inspiration was the judgement of myself that made me feel like I was not as good or could never become as good as the person I was seeing, or interacting with, so I would often become too impressed by whatever they were doing or saying and not able to engage with them in any meaningful way.

I was far too impressed by them so instead of becoming engaged in what they were teaching, how I might grow from a friendship or mentorship, I was afraid to fail. I was afraid to try. I was afraid to even be seen.