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Because Pablo found it difficult to say the words, "I love you"—something women by nature like to hear—his wife came up with an idea. One morning, as he was waking up, she handed him a list and told him to practice it. Curiously, he grabbed it, but since he was running late for work, he folded it and put it in his pocket.

Days passed, and the list remained intact in his pocket. Then one day, while driving home from work, he began reflecting on his wife’s recent distant and indifferent attitude. As he put his hand in his pocket, he noticed the piece of paper was still there, folded and intact. He wondered if this paper could be the reason for his wife’s behavior. Intrigued, he started reading it.

The list read:

"Dear husband, in my intense love for you, I have a simple request that might, from your point of view, be the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced. In advance, I thank you for accepting it, and I love you with all my heart!"

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he finished reading. Upon arriving home, he greeted his wife with a tender hug. Then, looking into her eyes, he said, “Layla, my dear wife, without you, I am not me. I miss you when I’m not with you. I treasure you when I am with you, and without you, I am not complete. You are my God-given complement. I loved you yesterday, I love you today, and I will love you tomorrow.”

From that day forward, he did exactly what the list indicated. Each day, he shared a phrase from the list:

1. I love you.

2. I care about you.

3. You are the love of my life.

4. I adore you.

5. You have captured my heart.

6. My heart belongs to you.

7. I carry you in my heart.

8. You are everything to me.

9. I can’t live without you.

10. You are my everything.

11. I need you.

12. You are my life.

13. You mean so much to me.

14. I’m madly in love with you.

15. You are my soulmate.

16. I carry you in my soul.

17. You are my reason for being.

18. I appreciate you so much.

19. You are my light.

20. You make me happy.

21. I love you with all my soul.

22. I miss you when you’re not here.

23. You are my happiness.

24. I can’t stop thinking about you.

25. I always wish you the best.

26. You are my best dream come true.

27. I don’t know what I’d do without you.

28. You are my favorite person.

29. I value you more than you know.

30. My heart is yours.

By the time he reached day 30, this list had served its purpose. It was no longer difficult for Pablo to say, “I love you!” or “I care about you!”

The first impact in your life is what drives your life.  Let me say it again: the first impact in your life is what now runs your life.

What does that mean?

The first time something shook your world might have been…

—when you overheard your parents arguing late at night,

—the day your best friend suddenly moved away, or perhaps

—the moment you watched your beloved pet take its final breath, or

—the first time you failed a test you thought you’d ace, or

—the first time you saw your parents cry.

IN ANY CASE, it was

—a moment so powerful that it left an indelible mark on your soul.

Maybe it was…

—the first time you felt the warmth of love,

—the first time you faced betrayal, or

—the first sting of rejection.

These moments are not just memories; they are the architects of your present—the silent forces guiding your every decision, every reaction, every emotion.

AND THAT INITIAL IMPACT is the force that SHAPES your life. It’s like dropping a stone into a calm pond—the ripples spread out, touching everything. It affects how you trust, the fears you cling to, and the dreams you chase. Everything you do can be traced back to that first big moment.

So, let’s dive deeper. What was your first impact? How has it defined who you are today? And more importantly, is it still running your life, or is it time to take control and redefine your path? This is your story—shaped by the first impact—and it’s yours to rewrite.

Francesca’s world shattered when her father woke her in a panic, saying, “Go get your sister. Your mother is passing.” Terrified, she raced to her pregnant sister’s house, her father’s desperate words ringing in her ears. Returning home, she couldn’t bring herself to enter her mother’s room. Instead, she stood outside under the full moon, clutching her chest as if to hold her heart together.

As she gazed at the night sky, a deep pain settled in her soul. “If this is how much it hurts to lose someone you love,” she thought, “then I will never love again.”

Even though her mother survived, Francesca had already made a life-altering decision: to stop loving, to protect herself from ever feeling that kind of pain again. From that moment on, her heart grew cold. She became distant, shutting herself off from what gives life meaning.

This was Francesca’s first impact, leading her to believe that love is too painful and best avoided. It was the moment that shaped her life, leaving her as a shadow of the person she could have been, forever haunted by the choice she made under that full moon.

As you reflect on Francesca’s story, think about the first time your world was shattered—when something made you believe you weren’t enough, were not important, or were unworthy of love. Those early experiences may have planted seeds of doubt that still influence your life today, quietly shaping your decisions, relationships, and sense of self. They might be leading you down a path that leaves you feeling unfulfilled, unhappy, or disconnected from the life you truly want to live.

Thank you for reading and don’t miss our next “YOUR FIRST IMPACT” story.

Mario always believed he was the smartest person in the

room. His exaggerated sense of self-importance made him

overconfident and dismissive of others. Whenever someone

shared an idea, Mario would scoff, convinced that his

thoughts were superior. His arrogance—the subtle force that

drove him—created an invisible barrier between himself and

the people around him, and over time, it began to fracture his

relationships.

At work, Mario’s behavior was even more pronounced. In

team meetings, he outright ignored suggestions, convinced

that only his perspective held merit. This attitude didn’t just

cause frustration—it led to resentment. The negative

atmosphere at work was palpable, and Mario’s colleagues

began to distance themselves, quietly wishing for his failure.

But what they didn’t see was the internal world of Mario, the

one filled with insecurity and pain, hidden behind his

arrogance. His arrogance wasn’t an inherent trait; it was a

behavior that had been created long ago—a response to the

wounds of his past.

A Seed of Pain

When Mario was 9 years old, he faced a pivotal moment.

Upon receiving his report card, he noticed that his grades

were much lower than those of his classmates. In an instant,

he was consumed by shame and embarrassment. That day,

Mario quietly sentenced himself: “I am not smart enough.”

That single, painful moment planted a seed of insecurity, and

from that point on, Mario carried the weight of this belief

everywhere he went.

Now, as an adult, any situation that made him feel less

intelligent, or any hint of failure, would trigger that deep-

seated shame from his childhood. Rather than face the

discomfort, Mario found a way to hide: he wore the mask of

arrogance.

Whenever he felt that familiar pang of inadequacy, he turned

to a predictable set of behaviors to shield himself:

• Dismissiveness: Ignoring others’ opinions, belittling their

contributions to make himself feel superior.

• Condescension: Speaking down to people, as if their ideas

or thoughts couldn’t possibly be as valuable as his own.

• Lack of Empathy: Focusing only on his own needs and

concerns, disregarding the feelings of others.

• Overconfidence: Exuding a level of certainty that silenced

others and left no room for collaborative thinking.

• Defensiveness: When challenged, Mario would react

aggressively, refusing to admit mistakes.

• Isolation: His arrogance built walls, pushing people away

and making real connection impossible.

All of these behaviors weren’t just masking his insecurity—

they were pushing people away, sabotaging his

relationships, and creating a toxic atmosphere both at work

and in his personal life.

Hitting Rock Bottom

One day, Mario faced a significant challenge. His latest

project, one he had been leading with absolute confidence, hit

a major roadblock. He was stuck, and his usual tactics—

acting superior, pretending he had all the answers—weren’t

working. Humiliating others, dismissing their input, these

strategies had all failed him.

That’s when a close friend, tired of Mario’s arrogance, finally

said the words Mario needed to hear: “Mario, you’ve become

so arrogant. This attitude isn’t working. You’re not as superior

as you think you are.”

The words stung, but they stayed with him. At first, Mario was

in disbelief—he had never seen himself as arrogant. But later,

in a quiet moment of reflection, the words echoed in his mind.

He thought, What if I am arrogant? What if this behavior is my

hiding place?

That night, he looked into the metaphorical mirror his friend

had suggested, asking himself the question he had long

avoided: How did I become this way?

And there, in the depths of his reflection, Mario saw a different

version of himself. Not the confident, superior figure he had

imagined, but a young boy, standing in his kitchen, spilling a

carton of milk. His father’s harsh voice cut through the

memory: “You idiot, look what you’ve done! Now there’s no

breakfast for the family!”

In that moment, Mario had frozen. He hadn’t just spilled milk;

he had spilled a deep belief into his psyche: I am dumb. I am

inadequate. From that day forward, everything he did was an

attempt to cover up that belief, to prove, at any cost, that he

was intelligent, capable, and worthy. Arrogance had become

his shield.

The Turning Point

Armed with this new understanding, Mario finally allowed

himself to be vulnerable. He reached out to his team and

asked for their help. To his surprise, they didn’t judge him;

instead, they brought their insights to the table. Together, they

quickly found a solution. It was a humbling moment for Mario,

but it was also liberating. He realized that other people’s

perspectives weren’t a threat to his intelligence—they were

valuable contributions that he had been missing out on all

along.

Through this experience, Mario began to understand the

importance of humility. He started to listen more, to recognize

that he didn’t always have to be the smartest person in the

room. The more he let go of his arrogance, the more he saw

how it had been a barrier not only to others, but to himself.

Conclusion: What is Arrogance?

Arrogance is nothing more than a created behavior—a shield

built out of insecurity and fear. It’s an exaggerated sense of

self-importance that often hides deep feelings of inadequacy.

It manifests as overconfidence, dismissiveness, and a lack of

empathy for others. But, as Mario learned, arrogance is not a

permanent trait. It can be dismantled.

How is it overturned?

1. Self-Reflection: Looking in the mirror and being willing to

see yourself for who you truly are.

2. Acknowledging the Impact: Understanding how your

behavior has affected others and yourself.

3. Choosing Conscious Behavior: Replacing arrogance

with humility, gratitude, and respect for others.

In the end, Mario learned that humility wasn’t about being less

—it was about being open to others, about embracing the

power of collaboration and empathy. And in that, he found real strength.