Invisible Footprints

You’re doing it all the time . . . and so am I.

Our physical footprints leave impressions of where we’ve been and the direction of where we’re going.

But there are also footprints of another kind – the  “invisible footprints” that we’re leaving all the time that can have a much greater impact and are infinitely more powerful. They are formed from the ideas in our minds; our attitudes which, when put into action or inaction, leave a lasting imprint or impression for others to witness or experience.

Now we’re all born with this handy, jim-dandy, automatic mental camera. It operates to record every thought we think, anything we look at, feel or experience. It can take more pictures per second than you can shake a stick at and what’s more, it never runs out of film, batteries or memory. Then we store up all these pictures for some reason, or perhaps for no reason at all.

For better or worse, our ideas are largely formed from these pictures of experience. Inevitably these pictures – thoughts, memories and ideas of pleasant or painful experiences – are shared through viral word of mouth, or whatever media, and passed on to others and influence them as well; it’s just human nature.

It is the interactions and experiences with others that create the invisible footprints that you leave behind.

I suppose at this point I could draw a long philosophical beard and introduce a theory of societal reciprocity wherein we tend to treat others as we have been treated – responding to a positive action with another positive action, and responding to a negative action with another negative one – but maybe another time . . .

I’m just saying that if you’re alive, you’re interacting with others.  Whether you like it or intend it or not, you’re leaving behind your own invisible footprints through your thoughts, ideas, words, and actions or inactions.

Ideas can inspire either action or inaction and both have consequences on your life and the lives of others. The invisible footprint you make on others can have a potent impression on others long after you have gone . . . just as those left by others do to you.

Make sure the unintended consequences of your actions or inactions with others leave behind a positive unexpected benefit – because the invisible footprints you give are remarkably similar to those you receive.

daniel w. jacobs
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