As we begin a new quarter and a new year, I’m reminded of our philosophy of health here at Life University, which recognizes that within each of us is a spark of the creative power of the universe. Nothing shapes our lives more than that inner spark.

The great American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson said it this way: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” That’s the message I’d like each of us to carry forward into this new quarter: That who we are matters as much as what we do. In the words of Peter Drucker, champion of organizational excellence, "The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

That’s what we mean when we say, “Rise from within.” It’s both a reminder and a challenge to be all we can be in this new year.

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I’m going to start with something that’s going to sound like a joke: What does Life University have in common with improv? I know that I’ve just set myself up for a LOT of punch lines, so please bear with me. I saw an educator’s take on improving the student experience using the rules of improv.

And, like our value set here at Life, all of them involved having a love for people … and being open to relationships and possibilities for creation and growth. I was especially struck by the final rule, which is “Help others shine.” Why? Because, here at Life U, we begin with the assumption that each of us is designed to fully express an inner light or spark of life – and that people will naturally shine unless they’re overwhelmed by interference from trauma, toxins, or toxic thinking.

So, here’s the punchline: Both improv and Life U understand that our purpose is to help others shine…by focusing their inner light so that they can shine as brightly as possible. We don’t always get it right, but we come a lot closer the higher we set our sights.

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There’s a B.J Palmer quote many in the chiropractic world know well—one that’s been on my mind lately and will likely resurface in future McAulay Minutes: “You never know how far reaching something you say, think, or do will impact the lives of millions tomorrow.” It’s most often shared as a call to do good in the world. But it also serves as a quiet warning – a reminder that even a careless word or moment of frustration can have consequences far beyond what we intend.

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