May The Force Be With You!

Growing up, it was common for me to hear my Private Pilot dad talk about what was involved in flying an airplane. He was always trying to teach me a thing or two, and I guess over the years, a few things stuck. Though I am not a pilot and do not pretend to be, let me see if I can sum up in simple terms what I learned and how it applies to you and your success.

For a plane to fly successfully, four components are required: lift, thrust, weight, and drag. Each one is different, but necessary for the aircraft to fly properly.

Lift is the aerodynamic force perpendicular to the relative wind. In other words, the force required that allows the plane to get off the ground and stay in the air.

Thrust is the force produced by the engine, whether by propeller or jet, to push the aircraft forward and keep it in motion.

Weight is the force of gravity directed downward from the center of the plane toward the Earth.

And finally, drag is the aerodynamic force that opposes an aircraft's motion through the air.

Now, I am not trying to give you flying lessons. Heck, I’m not even sure I just stated all of the above correctly! It’s just that as I was recently reminded of those four components, I couldn't help but see how each one of them relates to life.

A person who is full of lift will always encourage you. They are a blessing to you and make your life better. Time with “lifters” is always an investment, never an expenditure. After investing time with them, you seem to have a "lift" in your step because they have made life lighter for you. This is the kind of person who brightens a room just by entering, who knows how to elevate your spirit when they say something nice or offer a sincere compliment.

A person of thrust is one who motivates and inspires you, and points you in the right direction. They know how to push you along by doing things that encourage you to take action. Although true motivation comes from within, their inspiration makes you want to be better, do better, and accomplish more.

While the first two forces are positive, unfortunately, the last two are not. A person of weight is someone who pulls you down. They tend to be negative and often say or do things to discourage you. They are "nit-picky" and find fault with everything you do. When around them, you feel beaten up and beaten down. To keep from "crashing," you need to avoid them!

Finally, drag represents someone who always has a sad story. Their goldfish just died. It rained cats and dogs, and they got bitten by one with rabies. It rained soup, and all they had was a fork. They consistently want you to cheer them up and make them feel better. This kind of person brightens a room by leaving – or, as one social media post so eloquently noted… “Some people are like clouds. When they disappear, it’s a brighter day.”  If you see this person coming, it would be better to hide...especially if you see them before they see you! They are a drag on your life.

I'm not trying to be unkind. We’ve all been a weight or a drag to other people at some time in our lives, but we need to focus on being a person of lift and thrust. Having those two traits will cause others to be blessed by our lives, and we will be blessed in return. We will be full of love, joy, and peace as we interact with other people and cause them to be lifted because of their encounter with us.

So, may the force be with you - the positive kind! This week, cut loose the weight and drag from your life. Add lift and thrust, and do all you can to look for ways to encourage, motivate, and inspire others. You will be glad you did, and they will, too!