Ep. 39: Michael W. Smith - Humility and Leadership: Find Out How to Sing the Song of Your Life
Sometimes to achieve greatness you have to hit rock bottom. A common thread in many people’s lives, Michael W. Smith opens up about his transformation and the stunning life he has created.
Smith also shares his ideas about kindness, leadership and releasing the victim inside.
Listen in to find out how to let yourself detach from what people think of you. He comments, “One of my greatest goals in life, and I think I'm getting there, is that I'll never ever be offended by anyone ever again.”
Michael W. Smith is an American musician and three time Grammy Award winner. He received an American Music Award and has earned forty five dove awards as a result of his 32 albums. Joy positivity and freedom have been hallmarks of Michael W. Smith and his music for decades.
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Show Notes
[01:18] I felt like music was going to be part of the fabric of my life.
[02:20] All of a sudden he invited us over to the White House after the show and then your Dad (President Bush Senior) just started writing me letters.
[03:51]There's nothing better than knowing that your music is literally changing people's lives.
[04:06] I still never forget the letter I got from the girl who was 18 years old. She had a very abusive childhood -- abused by her uncle in more ways than I could even tell you during this podcast -- just an awful life. And so she was suicidal and she was getting ready to take her own life and she was driving down the highway to go actually take her life and then “Placed in this World” came on the radio and she pulled over on the side of the road and just begin to weep. She really had an encounter God right there on the side of the freeway. Her life totally changed because of that song and she's now married -- gosh she probably has grandkids by now, for all I know. But you know that song saved her life and I'm going -- that's worth my whole career. It's just that one story is worth my whole career.
[04:47] I think music is the most powerful universal language in the world. It's amazing how three and a half minute song can totally change somebody's life and the fact that I get to do it is just a dream come true.
[05:07] I'm inspired by life.
[05:54] All my favorite songs sort of fall out the sky and I just sort of catch them.
[05:58] Most of them (my songs) are inspired by just doing life.
[07:01] Don't give up.
[07:04] I listen to a lot of music and I listen to a lot of different kinds of music. So I stay entrenched on some level. I don't think I'll ever retire. I might not be jumping and flipping and tripping on stage at 80 years old. But this is my passion.
[07:22] You learn not to get frustrated in the dry times.
[07:34] I learned a lot about not giving up Doro from your Daddy.
[07:42] Stay at it, and the inspirational will come back.
[07:59] You know I think just being present you just be present and you be kind and you be gentle, and you love people, you love everybody the same.
[08:13] Wow I've got to wake up and I'm still alive. And I have this day I'm not guaranteed tomorrow. I'm not guaranteed the next.
[08:28] Let me be present - on some level, “give myself away” today.
Maybe somebody needs to be told that they're loved.
08:41] But I think it's part of what I learned from my Mom and Dad. I'll say “Hi” to everybody. And I passed 20 hikers, and you know 17 said hello. And three didn't say a thing.
[08:56] I want to be kind to everybody. I want to be mindful of that. I think the world could do a little better at things like that. I think the world would be a better place if we all were mindful of just caring for other people's needs as much as ours.
[11:58] There's a lot of people who surround themselves with bad people and they make bad choices and I was one of those guys for four years from 1975 to 1979. Almost lost my life to near drug overdose and I was just making bad choices and you just surround yourself with good people and you walk in community with people not think if you do that I think you can thrive and you can succeed and you can really do anything you want to do.
[12:24] I can't believe I'm even saying that -- I almost lost my life to near drug overdose. .. It's almost like who was that guy? I can't believe that I got that low and I can't believe that I made those kind of choices.
[15:28] I'm one of those guys that was lost and that got found.
[15:47] I love many people who almost didn't make it -- but they made it, and now they have a story to tell and that story can hopefully change somebody's life who's about to hit rock bottom. I love rescuing people any way I can. And I think my story allows me to do that because I've been there I know what it feels like and it's not fun.
[17:51] It's not about you.
[18:10] It's really not about me. It's about giving yourself away. I just think humility is the key. I think you can be a strong leader and be full of humility and change the world. We all want to be accepted and appreciated but I really care less and less about that these days.
[18:27] I've never been or freer than going, “I don't really care what people think about me”. One of my greatest goals in life, and I think I'm getting there, is that I'll never ever be offended by anyone ever again.
[19:10] We all deal with adversity. I think those times of adversity sort of grow us up. But if you play the victim card it's not a good life. Unfortunately, I know a lot of people who just play the victim card and they're miserable.
[20:14] So if you would give advice for people to live their healthiest, happiest lives what would be your top three pieces of advice?
[20:29] Faith has got to be the number one thing. I believe with every fiber of my being and it's a game changer I think that is the one key because if you know that you are love - that God really loves you -- not only loves but actually really likes you. It is a game changer - that would be the number one thing. Number two, walking in community -- walk with good people. Hopefully you find the most amazing soulmate in your life. You know which I did with Debbie you know just that walking community. And I think you've got to take care of yourself physically. I work out a lot. I'm not obsessed by it but I stay active. So it's all that spiritually emotionally physically all that kind of stuff you know. So if you could do all the things well then I think you can live a long a prosperous life.
Thank you for joining us on HealthGig. We loved having you with us. We hope you'll tune in again next week. In the meantime, be sure to like and subscribe to this podcast, and follow us on healthgigpod.com.
“There's nothing better than knowing that your music is literally changing people's lives.” - Michael W. Smith
“All my favorite songs sort of fall out the sky and I just sort of catch them.” - Michael W. Smith
“Be present, kind and gentle — and love people — love everybody the same. - Michael W. Smith
“Maybe somebody needs to told that they're loved.” - Michael W. Smith
“I want to be kind to everybody. I want to be mindful of that. I think the world could do a little better at things like that. I think the world would be a better place if we all were mindful of just caring for other people's needs as much as ours.” - Michael W. Smith
“It's really not about me. It's about giving yourself away. I just think humility is the key. I think you can be a strong leader and be full of humility and change the world. We all want to be accepted and appreciated but I really care less and less about that these days.” - Michael W. Smith
“I've never been or freer than going, “I don't really care what people think about me”. One of my greatest goals in life, and I think I'm getting there, is that I'll never ever be offended by anyone ever again.” - Michael W. Smith
Keywords
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