Have you seen the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Washington, D.C.? It is a moving image of the gaunt Gandhi walking forward determinedly with a staff in his hand. The most compelling part of the statue is the quote from him that appears on the base: “My life is my message.” That short statement speaks volumes not only about Gandhi but also to each of us.
Gandhi’s simple life of determined, non-violence created a movement that brought Britain to grant independence to India. His life—how he lived and what he said–expressed his message with integrity. Long before Marshall McLuhan’s famous statement–“The medium is the message.”—Gandhi’s life was the medium of his message.
What is the message of our lives? This question invites soul searching. What does the way I’m living my life convey about my message? What would others infer that I really value from what they can see of my actions? Are these in alignment with who I am and how I want to be?
We invite you to take a few minutes to check your life message. Write down your habits and behaviors both in words and actions. What message do they convey? Then, ask family members or friends who know you to write down the messages they think your life expresses. Are the messages in alignment with your hopes for your life? How might you change what you are doing to bring how you are living more closely in tune with what you truly wish to express?
As Gandhi’s life demonstrates, our strength and our fulfillment lies not in the wealth or power of the positions we hold but in the messages we send from how we live our lives. Your family, friends, coworkers, and communities are listening for your message.
