Is it my imagination? I get the feeling that there are a lot of people out there – leaders and individuals who are doing for themselves. And what I mean by this is that their intention, focus… and in fact their motivation, is all about them.
There’s nothing wrong with knowing what you want and making sure your needs are met, but its important in life to give so you can receive.
Givers will pitch in and help even when the benefits to others exceed their own personal goals. The takers will pitch in and help only when there are benefits for themselves.
Take Responsibility For The Energy You Bring
From an energy standpoint individuals who are givers tend to lean towards positive energy – they are filled with enthusiasm, they are constantly praising, encouraging and are of service to others. Takers lean towards the negative side of things. They tend to criticize, demotivate and demand – they’re driven by a single thought: ‘what’s in it for me’?
But we all have the power to change this kind of behaviour by not encouraging it, and we do this by having ‘courageous conversations’. Successful entrepreneurs, leaders and business owners are givers. As Simon Sinek shares with us – givers advance the world. Takers advance themselves and hold back the world.
Paying It Forward
Be the kind of leader you want to see in the world.
Paying if forward is good karma – it means putting out good, useful energy (perhaps doing someone a favour, or giving away your time to mentor someone) with absolutely NO expectations of receiving anything in return. Seeing others rise and thrive is intensely satisfying.
Good leaders know how to do this. They devote their time and skills and energy to others and in doing so inspire, motivate and empower, sparking imaginations to sow the seeds of future leadership while there are still plenty of time for them to bloom and grow.
We Are Hardwired For Giving
There is scientific evidence that we have circuits within our brain that control our nurturing social impulses, our human desire to help others. There is a plethora of data starting to reveal key workings of the biological hardware that makes altruism possible. This presents a new scientific frontier – one that could eventually enable the development of analysis tailored for people who have particular challenges generating empathy or who want to improve their existing capacity for generosity.
At the same time, the assumptions that the evolution of altruism have expanded and acquired evidence to support them, lends insight into ‘why’ our brains are wired for selflessness in the first place.
Throw Kindness Around Like Confetti
Your greatness is not measured by what you have; it’s by what you give.
So… give all you have to every opportunity, holding nothing back. Most of the time it’s not in the receiving but in the giving that our void is filled. When you give, it is wise not to expect that it comes back to you from where or who you think it should, but it always does. The energy you put out will always find its perfect way to you. When you give, you expand; you open yourself up to receive at the level you are giving. The more you give, the more you open up your space to receiving.
And… when you hold back, you are allowing fear to block the natural flow of life and as a result, you reinforce lack and scarcity.
In giving, always remember to give to yourself. When you give to yourself, you will have more to give others. The more you give to others, the more you will have to give yourself.
How much are you willing to give?
