The Gift of Giving
Pablo Picasso once said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” We are all born with a unique set of gifts, talents and abilities. If you have a deep understanding of what these are, you can help other people while improving your own life at the same time. Here are some of the greatest gifts you can share with others:
Your Time
Time is precious. In today’s hectic world, there never seems to be enough of it, especially when you’re trying to juggle all of your many activities and commitments on a daily basis. When your schedule is already jam-packed, trying to find time to add in extra obligations can be very difficult. This is why it’s vitally important to be selective about who and what you pour yourself into.
Your Attention
Your attention is your ultimate focus. If you’re going to do something, you need to do it right and do it well. This means that you can’t do too much at once – you must choose what you want to prioritize and then give it your all.
Your Example
The example you set for others speaks volumes about your character and what you stand for. Always pursue the best version of yourself, but don’t get hung up on perfection either. It’s vital to accept and love yourself. Faults and all, you can be an example to others who look to you for leadership and guidance.
Your Insight
Your expertise is invaluable. However, when people ask for your insight, start by giving only the most important feedback first. You need to be patient. Let people have their own journey and give your advice in small pieces. At the end of the day, you can’t want their success more than they want it themselves.
Your Resources
Your resources are not just financial. The first resource you can give to others is your experience, which has been honed over years of service. The next is the treasure trove of your relationships, which are at the heart of every strong business. The last is your time, energy and money. When you use your precious resources to help others, it elevates everything in your life and makes it richer.
The special gifts that you were born with were designed to bless other people. When you understand, cultivate and polish your gifts, you can help your clients, your team, your business, your community and yourself. To learn more about the gift of giving, listen to the latest episode of “It’s a Good Life.”
