I had given an assignment to my working women’s group to reflect on motherhood for our Mother’s Day session.  In addition to contemplating what legacies our mother’s left us, I asked everyone to think about what they would like their children to remember most about them.  Specifically, how would we finish the phrases “my mother always said…”  or “my mother always did…”?

As we talked yesterday, we shared some great memories about our mothers and the lessons we learned.  What was interesting to notice is that our conversations weren’t so much “my mother always said…”, but were about what “I saw my mother DO…”  As we reflected on the impact our mother’s made on us, it was far more about what we witnessed, than what we heard.

This is a great reminder to all of us, in any situation.  At work, in the public forum and with friends and family, our words convey only a small piece of the story.  It is what we DO, in the end, that matters.  If we choose to leave a lasting impression on anyone – our children, our boss, our co-workers, a client, a potential employer in an interview, we must always think about our words in combination with our actions.  How we present ourselves will be remembered more than the words we say.   Aligning our actions with our intentions, the product of self-awareness, isn’t always as easy as it seems.  However, something as simple as taking a few minutes each day to reflect on your intentions can be the difference between aiming for a goal and achieving it.  Take the time to develop a practice that will work for you.