Admiration: The Art Of Becoming Better Through Others

I see four main virtues in this sentiment.

First, admiration is a source of daily happiness. To be happy, it’s better to cultivate a propensity to be dazzled by the little miracles we witness every day than to be continually blasé and impervious to any sense of wonder. I must admit, this reaction has come more naturally to me since I’ve had four near-death experiences, which have taught me to appreciate every milligram of magic. In this regard, admiration for living beings – both human and animal – is a unique form of enthusiasm for two reasons: It reminds us of our social nature and provides a source of inspiration that, for example, the beauty of nature does not offer as readily. I may find a mountain sublime, but I won’t try to imitate it.

This inspiration leads to the second virtue I find in admiration: When properly understood, it contributes to personal growth. To achieve this, admiration must be active rather than passive – it should push us to emulate what we can from those we admire. We must pinpoint precisely what impresses us about the subject of our admiration and consider how we can adopt that quality based on our own level in the relevant area – whether it be performance, kindness, courage, integrity… One does not need to be exceptional to embark on the path of progress. In fact, inspiration and aspiration feed off each other, pulling us out of our comfort zone.

Bobby Kennedy campaigning in April 1968 – (CC) Bill Eppridge/LIFE Collections/Getty Images

This is also why admiration fosters humility, its third virtue. Comparing ourselves to those who are better than us helps put our own qualities into perspective. These qualities seem less extraordinary when measured against those of our heroes – of a life or a moment. This relativization, moreover, is positive: It doesn’t put us down, but lifts us up by showing us an ideal. This is how I feed my unquenchable thirst for learning, which is at the heart of my life’s philosophy.

Last but not least, admiration – so long as it is not reserved only for unparalleled geniuses – encourages compassion. In our daily lives, we can admire people who may not accomplish feats worthy of placing them among society’s elite but who perform small miracles. It is essential that our admiration be as diverse as the life situations we encounter – sometimes without even noticing them. Ultimately, admiration stems from two fundamental qualities: Curiosity and empathy.

I therefore encourage you to make a habit of admiring at least one living being every day, for the smallest or greatest of reasons. Rarely does a day go by without my finding a source of enchantment in someone’s actions. And if ever that does happen, I can always fall back on my ultimate hero, Robert F. Kennedy (the father – definitely not the son).

Admire, and you will become better.