Personal confession … I have type A tendencies and find that I can get very focused and driven. There are some good things about that, but the downside is that I can blow past the simple pleasures and opportunities to feel gratitude for the many blessings in my life.
I’ve made a concerted effort to slow down and really pay attention to my surroundings and appreciate the small things, that if taken away, would be greatly missed. It’s in that spirit of being more observant that I noticed a small framed picture that said, “You get what you give, so you better give good.”
I think of the “give” we offer to the world is our energy. That energy can be either positive or negative. It’s a choice each person has each day.
For me, the more intentional I am about the energy I “give,” the more positive that energy becomes.
Here are three areas where I think our energies can pay off in a big way:
- Building & Enhancing Relationships – I’ve always measured the richness of my life by the richness of my relationships. Taking a genuine interest in others, truly listening to their thoughts and ideas and discovering how to offer help or support are ways to create a rich relationship. Relationships don’t exist without communication, so it’s really important to pay attention to what and how we communicate. Words matter — body language matters — tone matters. Be thoughtful, not reactive in all aspects of communication.
- Producing Quality Work – Regardless of what your job is, focus on delivering high-quality work is always a good thing. You can build a reputation of quality and will be sought out by others to do exciting work, which will lead to a fulfilling career. The work you produce is a reflection of yourself – why wouldn’t you want your best self to show up every day?
- Encouraging Others – You never know what is going on in someone’s life and offering a simple “thank you,” or encouraging someone to keep pursuing a dream, or offering hope can put a lot of positive energy out there. Hope is a magical thing and may be the only thing another person has. Letting someone know you believe in them may just help them start believing in themselves. After all, that’s where it all begins!
It’s like the law of attraction – what you put out in the world is what will come back to you.
What are you willing to “give?”
Martha Duesterhoft is a Partner with PeopleResults. Follow her on Twitter @mduesterhoft or connect via email at mduesterhoft@people-results.com.
