Contribution

Giving and receiving compassionate assistance is deeply rewarding

What can you do to benefit others? Through your creations, you can learn what unique attributes and abilities you have that may be helpful and meaningful to others. The reception of benefits from others, family members, friends and participation in communities provides good lessons as to why and how to make meaningful contributions.

Contribution through Awareness

Awareness is the conscious recognition of the diversity of people, their personalities, their beliefs, their joys, their hardships, and the variety of how they experience life.  Awareness of differences with a sincere desire to benefit others is necessary to start giving in a way that will be effective and meaningful.  It’s more important that they receive your help because it appears helpful from their perspective not yours.  Some commonality and connection precedes a compassionate exchange.  People don’t receive from those they don’t trust.  Our ability to understand another’s situation, even in a small way, will increase the effectiveness and reception of the assistance.  Admittedly, some personalities and situations will be easier to recognize and appreciate than others.  Assistance provided to those that you just “don’t get” are more difficult to approach and serve authentically.  As you study, interact, and try to understand your awareness, acceptance, appreciation, and ability to take compassionate action will increase, including the great satisfaction that can follow.

Contribution through Acceptance

Thoughts or comments like “I can’t believe he thinks that way”, “That’s just crazy”, “What’s wrong with _______________? ”, “How could she ever do such a thing?” prevents inspiration about effective service.  Admittedly, some people and situations are easier to accept than others.  Through your connection to your higher and authentic self your will increase your ability to accept others especially those that have experiences and characteristics similar to you.  Expanding your exposure to others similar and different than yourself will increase your ability to accept and enlarge your circle of influence.  Some of the best benefits of participating in communities is the learning and acceptance of others and finding new opportunities to serve.

Contribution through Appreciation

Appreciation goes beyond acceptance and is just as difficult at times as going from mere awareness to acceptance.  A dictionary definition is appreciation is the recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities and someone, something, or a situation. Appreciation requires positive thinking.  Positive thinking about the benefits of good and bad qualities of a person or a situation. Here are some positive thoughts made by others:

“Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power”                                                                 
– William James

“The thing that lies at the foundation of positive change, the way I see it,
is service to a fellow human being.”                                                                                     
– Lee Iacocca

“Positive thinking is more than just a tagline.  It changes the way we behave.
And I firmly believe that when I am positive, it not only makes me better, but it
also makes those around me better.”                                                                                   
– Harvey Mackay

“The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the
impossible”                                                                                                                            
-Winston Churchill

“Much of our pain or misery in life steps from our own outlook towards the
situation”                                                                                                                               
-Amit Ahlawat

“You may find the worst enemy or best friend in yourself”                                                  -English Proverb

Contribution through Action

Taking action is Creation.  The act of giving in words, deeds, and gifts is the human exchange that we call life.  Compassionate action is equivalent with passionate living. Action may not always bring happiness . . . but there is never happiness without action.

“It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there will be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.”
                                                                                                                          -Mahatma Gandi

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