My seven-year-old came home with an assignment to “discuss inspiration and who inspires us”. So we began talking.

First he had to understand what being inspired even means. The dictionary offers little in the way of definition, so we looked to examples to try to explain it.

I shared the kinds of people that inspire me, mentioned some of the obvious greats — Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa: people we admire that have done great things — but there’s more to it than that.

I used the example of Oprah Winfrey — a modern hero in my mind — not just for being a dynamic businesswoman and strong female role model, but also using her fortune and influence to help others and promote positivity and wellbeing. What impresses me most about her story is that she did all this despite her meagre beginnings and early hardships.

“Inspirational” is someone who does not accept the limitations of their circumstances but rises above them to fulfil their potential — that was my take on it.

Grandma gave him a different kind of inspiring story: about a lady here in her 80s who met a little girl on her regular bus route and struck up a friendship. Discovering the youngster and her working, single-mum were struggling to make ends meet she stepped in and became a surrogate grandmother of sorts, helping with childcare, a hot meal on the table, even starting a college fund for the girl. Grandma says that an inspiring person is anyone that reminds us of what we, just as we are, can do for others.

A friend directed us to the video of Amy Purdy on Super Soul Sunday (with Oprah of course!). All I can say is: watch it.

This friend says: inspiration comes from those whose personal courage leads them to being their highest selves, the benefits of which reach far beyond the personal.

And after all this talk, I ask my son:

“So, darling, who inspires you?”

“You, mama.”

“Damn, this kid is good,” I think to myself. “What’s he angling for, TV on a weekday?”

“But there are particular qualities of a person that inspires us, remember — they’re someone who does something special,” I tell him.

“You love me. You look after me,” he says.

I suddenly realise what a privilege and responsibility I have, that we all have: the potential to be an inspiration.

Eyes are on us.

There is a world of inspiring people out there, when we care to look. No matter how grand the scale. Can we learn from them? Find a new measure of our own capacity? Be emboldened by their courage? Recognise the places where we can, just as we are, reach further, give more?

Let us inspire ourselves to be the person that we want those we love to be inspired by.

• Julia Pitt is a trained success coach and certified NLP practitioner on the team at Benedict Associates. For further information contact Julia on 705-7488, www.juliapittcoaching.com.