I recently became a father, and I strive to be a great one. I want to teach my kids to be loving, curious, committed and hardworking. I want them to believe fully in themselves, trusting their capabilities while recognizing the need and value of seeking guidance to gain understanding. I want them to feel peace and joy and love.

As parents, we work hard to teach our children these things. We speak to them and instruct them and try to put them in the right environments.

The truth is, they’re going to catch from us more than we will teach them. They are watching our every move and their personalities and philosophies and principles will develop based on what they see and feel from us. If we are always complaining, they’ll catch that. If we always treat others with love and respect, they’ll catch that too.

What are your children, or other people around you catching from you? Working on yourself isn’t selfish – on the contrary, it’s incredibly important to always strive towards becoming the best version of yourself. You can make a difference, not by showing something else, but by being something else. People sense and feel what’s real.

You were born to do great things with your life. The sooner you embrace that, and do the hard work every day of becoming the person you were born to be, the sooner your loved ones will catch the ripple effects.

Lead by example – they are watching, and they deserve to catch the best from you.