Bridges & Intersections

by Thomas Hawk(Flickr creative commons)

Shanel, a single-mom, who’s been a dedicated worker of a company for 20 years, was laid off because of the “recession”. How can such a broken lady squeeze the juice out of life? Would you be amazed if I tell you that she can squeeze more juice by giving back at the same time?

It is better to give than receive is what we’ve been told since we were young. What if I tell you that a better mind-set is to give and take at the same time? Every situation is an opportunity for us to give AND to receive. 

The earth always has this in motion. It took nourishment that it needed to live the life that it did (Plant takes nourishment. Water and the soil give nourishment.). A dead plant gives nourishment to the soil, which would be used by other living plants (Dead plant gives. Other living creatures take.). For this reason, the harmony of the earth is always in place.

The same is true in our lives. The same level of harmony happens when we are in the motion of both taking AND receiving.

A tragedy occurs. Life isn’t always as we hope it would be.

• What can you take from this event? What lessons can you learn, about yourself, about the other person, about God? Could you have prevented it by doing something differently?
• On the flip side, what can you offer? Does anybody need help? Can you do something so that the situation wouldn’t get any worse than it already is?

A fantastic event occurs. There are moments when we get what we work hard for.

• What can you take from this event (other than the rewards of your hard work)? How can you improve next time?
• What can you offer? What can you give so that others can benefit from your success? Can you share your story to inspire others? Can you share your rewards?

With contribution mentality, Shanel takes this opportunity to give and take. “What has a jobless woman with a child to support got to give?” You may ask. While looking for a new job, she takes this chance to go home a little bit earlier and spend more time with her child. After all, she will not be have as much time once her new job starts. She also seizes this opportunity to take (now we’re talking!) She gave herself time to understand what happened and why she was laid off. She used this unemployed time (while doing interviews) to become a better person and a better mother along the way.

In this mindset, we train ourselves, especially our minds that we are part of the bigger picture. We are part of the bigger story of life. Who we are and what we do has an impact to the lives that we interact with. You’ll never really lose anything again because everything you let go is simply taken away to benefit someone else, and every moment has at least a lesson waiting for you to be learned.

You have a chance to bring harmony to your life as the earth brings harmony to itself – learn to give and take, at the same time.

This article is the fourth article on the series Humility Leader.