How to Shine in Your Life
Albert Einstein wrote, “Only a life lived for others is worth living.”
You’ve seen me write or talk a lot about adding value to other people being not only key to your success, but also to enjoying a rewarding and fulfilled life.
It’s actually a paradoxical concept to the way people have been conditioned to think. Many of us have been brought up to think that there is only so much to go around and we must grab what we can before other people get our share. But there is another paradigm which insists on the importance of community, emphasizing our interconnectedness and interdependence. In this view, helping others, giving something of ourselves and reaching out are the keys to success and happiness. “No one has ever become poor by giving.” ~ Anne Frank, diary of Anne Frank
Actually, many of the most important things we can offer others are not limited in supply and, in fact, actually grow by our giving it! When you show love, compassion, encouragement, support and wisdom to others, your supply doesn’t shrink. I find the more one gives, the more you recognize that you have to give and the greater your desire to do it. “Give freely to the world these gifts of love and compassion. Do not concern yourself with how much you receive in return, just know in your heart it will be returned.” ~ Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
Mentoring is one of the great joys in my life. While at times I may choose to make a tangible or financial investment in the process, for the most part, the only limited resource mentoring requires of me is my time. As a result, I recognize I can’t mentor everyone that may ask and we all must choose the people in which we wish to invest, but the result can be incredibly rewarding as we get a front row seat to their growth, development and maturation.
Although not a motivation for doing it, when you help others with no expectation of anything in return, you will find that rewards start coming your way. It’s funny how life works that way, but it does indeed. While I think that is literally true, I also think the other thing that happens is that when you’re busy helping others, you have less time to focus on any negative things happening in your own life and to better appreciate what you have.
Adding value to others will also bring you opportunity. If you become known as someone who always helps, always tries to find a solution, you’ll find that when other people have new projects or exciting things in which they’re getting involved, you will be one of the first they would like to include. Invitations will begin arriving completely unsolicited.
It’s important to add value in an authentic way, in a way that doesn’t have an ulterior motive, in a way that is genuine and helpful and unassuming.