What can I give to the world?

What can I give to the world?

That question is set as a reminder in my phone because sometimes I find myself thinking about what I can take from the world. And I don’t like who I’m being when that’s the case. Also, I’m rarely (if ever) pleased with the result. 

So as I write this, I’m thinking about what I can share with you that will add something to your life. 

In this case, it’s that very question I hope you will find value in: What can I give to the world?

Do you ever notice yourself formulating a plan or strategizing how you can get something from someone else? Or how you can get them to do something to serve your agenda? In my experience that’s a stressful situation. I feel like I’m sneaking around, wearing a mask, calculating my next move. It’s usually motivated by ‘getting ahead’ in some way. 

When I ask myself, what can I give to the world? It shines a light on my motives. It begs the follow-up question: ‘why am I doing this?’ For me, the answer I’m looking for (to let me know if I’m on the right track) is usually something along the lines of: “...because I want to be someone to whom others can express themselves openly and authentically so I better act accordingly.” 

This is where I remind you (and myself) that we’re all snowflakes with unique gifts to offer the world. If you could wrap up your favorite parts of yourself into a package with a nice bow - for the rest of us to open and discover - what would you put in there? What could we learn from you? How could you help us?

This reminder serves me well when it comes to building a business, supporting others as a coach, my personal and professional relationships, the things I decide to pursue and spend my time on. 

I know my ego will continue to swoop in with self-serving ideas. The practice here, and the reason for the reminder in my phone, is to notice when that happens, remember who I’m committed to being and shift my thoughts/actions accordingly. 

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