“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. You have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
Think about that quote from Jane Goodall. Every word you speak, every gesture you make, every glance you give creates a tiny energetic imprint. When those imprints are added up, what’s the net impact you want to leave behind?
What We Know: The Power of Emotional Contagion
The energy you arrive with directly impacts the energy that others leave with. Psychologists call this emotional contagion. The mood you bring into a room, a call, or a hallway shapes others, even if you don’t speak a word.
Every time you interact with a colleague, a friend, or a loved one, you’re actually having two conversations:
- The words you speak
- The energy you bring
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. You have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
Studies show that this second conversation is often far more influential than the first. And yet most of us know how to prepare our words… not our energy.
What You Can Try: Align Your Energy in Two Steps
Here’s a simple practice to help you show up with the energy you intend to bring.
- Step 1: Imagine the Feeling You Want to Leave Behind
Do you want the people you’re interacting with to feel inspired? Curious? Grounded? Seen? Before the conversation begins, name that intention.
- Step 2: Step Into That Feeling Before You Begin
Breathe into it. Anchor yourself in it. Let that feeling settle in you before you begin the conversation.
Two Examples
- Example 1: A Team Meeting
Let’s say you’re stepping into a meeting and you want your team to feel inspired. Before you speak, pause and ask yourself: Why am I inspired?
What about this project—or this team—genuinely moves you? Tap into that energy, even if briefly. Then let it naturally flow into the room.
- Example 2: A Phone Call with Loved Ones
My parents are in their 80s, and before we hop on the phone, I bring to mind a positive memory—a birthday, a laugh, a moment of quiet care. I rarely share the memory aloud, but I carry its emotional texture into the call. That helps me move from just having a conversation to having a genuine connection with them.
Jane Goodall passed away last week, but her presence lives on. She reminds us that the imprints we leave – in our work, our words, our energy – become our lasting impact.
Let’s keep playing the Game of Now.