Celebrity chefs have their signature dish (like Gordon Ramsay’s Beef Wellington). Musicians have their signature song (like Michael Jackson’s Thriller). Many actors have their signature quotes (Arnold’s “I’ll be back,” for instance). It got me thinking. Then, I found a Buddhist quote that I thought was really compelling: “Every thought you produce, anything you say, any action you do, it bears your signature.”

Everything we do and think. If we give that some real thought, it makes a lot of sense. When we do or say something, it gives others a sense of who we are as a person. If all we do is walk around with a negative attitude, saying negative things, gossiping about others or complaining, we have now put it out there that we are a negative person, untrustworthy and not so much fun to be around. If we are consistently happy and smiling, helping people, being kind and optimistic, we have put it out there that we are a joyful person that people gravitate toward because it makes them feel good, too. We will become known by that personality, our signature.

If we put 100 percent into everything we do, whether that be cutting someone’s grass, building a house or getting that PowerPoint deck to look just right – our signature is attached. If we half-ass most things and just try to get them over with – our signature becomes that, too. I personally want anything with my name on it to be as good as it can be.

We need to be mindful of everything we put out into the world. We are creating our identity throughout our entire lives. Being our most authentic selves and showing we care about others and what we do, both in our work and personal lives, is critical. We need to consider what we have left behind us when our physical forms are no longer here. Did we leave a signature that people remember with a smile or an eye roll? First, consider carefully who you really are; then, consider if that is the person the world also sees. Does it match?

The pure light in me honors the pure light in you. Namaste.

Jennifer Russo