Monday, February 26, 2018

The Choice

“When you choose to see the good in others, you end up finding the good in yourself.” (Anonymous)

It can be difficult to see your place in the world. We all should thrive biologically, psychologically, and spiritually on human interaction. There always needs be a balance between being an individual, and acknowledging that you’re part of a whole. Dealing with others is part of becoming the best version of you. Here are five helps to construct an awareness of self that encourages compassion, generosity, and love towards others.

1.   Be clear: Your role in life is not to be the smartest or most capable person in the room. Your role is to interact with other people, to collaborate with other people, and to foster talent in other people.

 I say this without meeting you because this is the highest calling to which any of us can aspire. This is where we should be aiming. You are surrounded by people. Sometimes it is easiest to help those who have the weakest connections to you.

2.   Be generous: Give others your time and energy, and the benefit of the doubt. Believe in them even when they fail to believe in themselves. It takes no ability whatsoever to believe in someone who is succeeding. What's hard is to see is the talent buried deep inside someone who does not know it is there.

3.   Be open-minded: Talent takes many forms, and it brings people to some unusual circumstances. Many of the most talented people you meet will be utterly different than you. They will think differently, act differently, and talk differently.

They may be loud when you want to be quiet, and they may be quiet when you are searching for advice. Your greatest challenge is to see past your own biases to spot uniqueness inside a person that may at first make little sense to you.

4.   Be persistent: It is never easy to cultivate talent. People will get discouraged and distracted. It takes time to accept responsibility for one's own outcomes. You can help others, but it is not your role to do all the work for them.

With persistence, you can communicate two critical lessons: you have talent inside you, and you can bring it out if you are willing to put in sufficient effort. This leads to two truths: you have to invest effort in others, and they have to invest effort in themselves.

5.   Be present: If you are in love with your own abilities and goals, you will never find the treasures that exist all around you. To spot talent, you have to pay attention. You have to look for the smallest clues, and you have to be curious enough to pursue them. The greater your ability to pay attention, the more talent you will find.

“Life is about balance. Be kind, but don't let people abuse you. Trust, but don't be deceived. Be content, but never stop improving yourself.” (Anonymous)[i]



[i] Sources used:

·        “5 Ways to See Your Reflection in Others” by Leo Carver

·        “Five Simple Ways to Bring Out the Best in Others” by Bruce Kasanoff

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