Why make a good impression when you could leave a powerful, permanent imprint? We often live our lives hoping people will like us—we all like to be liked and love to be loved. But sometimes we try so hard to leave a good impression that we never really leave a lasting imprint—we never take our relationships to a deeper level or let our actions go beyond the bare minimum. We don’t press down with purpose or power. People will say about you, “He seems like a pretty decent guy” rather than “He sure is a great man—and this is why.”
When we make an impression upon someone, it generally is superficial and forgettable. Sure, you might be remembered as a good person (which is a good way to be thought of), but why were you good? What about you has been imprinted in the hearts and minds of others? Impressions are like pressing silly putty onto characters from the Sunday morning comics—they can be stretched thinner and thinner and can become easily distorted over time.
Imprints, however, are like pressing your hands into wet cement—something that is undeniably obvious and far more long-lasting. Leaving an imprint upon someone is substantial. And you have the choice as to what kind of imprint you want to leave. Would you prefer to be remembered for specific acts of kindness, tenderness, friendship, laughter, integrity, honesty, compassion, support, humor and appreciation for life, or as someone who is prideful, arrogant, difficult, negative, stressful, depressing, frustrating, confrontational and angry? What is worthy of remembering? Your energies have to go somewhere—how do you wish to spend them?
Impressions are like Hallmark cards—they are nice enough, but they are recyclable and generally discarded at some point. But imprints are like hand-made, custom-tailored, from-the-heart expressions of love—things that people will keep in their precious memory boxes.
Give people a reason to remember you, and to do so with fond recollection. Leave behind evidence. Don’t simply make a shallow impression that is easily covered when the winds blow. No, make such a deeply embedded imprint that its existence is undeniable—one that is not easily forgotten. Be a friend in times of need. Don’t always try to be right or get your way, but listen to your spouse or your friend and work to overcome disagreements. Go out of your way to do something kind for someone.
Make a positive, lasting imprint.
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