It’s easier than you think. It’s not rock science. It’s not cooking a seven course meal. It’s not even washing your car. All you have to do, is be nice.
“Could someone else benefit from your knowledge, your contacts, your expertise, etc.? Did you let them? Have you made a difference in someone’s life?”
First, answer these questions honestly in your mind. For yourself, no one else. Look deep down into your own conscious. Feel the emotions, the satisfaction or the regrets. Were you selfish? Did you turn someone away when you knew you could help them? Did you pretend not to know when you knew?
Now, I want you to picture someone you care about. Someone you would do anything for. They’ve just asked you a favor and you as always, obliged. You saw them smile and you became all warm and fuzzy on the inside. Remember that feeling. Got it? Good. Now I want to picture a stranger or an acquaintance who has just asked you for the same favor. You, instead of listening to what they needed, tell them you’re really busy and leave. How do you feel now? Awful? Indifferent because you don’t really know them? Guilty?
As people, we assign different emotions to different people in our lives. Those we care about give us a HUGE boost of energy whether good or bad. People we don’t know, well I guess we can take them or leave them right? The problem with that is, EVERYONE in our life was at one time, a stranger or an acquaintance. Hmmm, forgot that did you? (smile)
Here’s what I’m getting at. In order for us to make our world a little “better”, we must be able to treat each person we meet as though they’re a friend that we’ve known for a long time. Do the favor. Give them a minute of your time. Listen to them vent. Offer a solution. By doing this we create a bond with another human being instantly. Whether you ever see them again or not, you WILL always be connected. Oh, and it doesn’t end there. When you “sincerely” touch another human being’s life, they in turn will do the same for someone else, whether consciously or unconsciously and all of it because of you. What an amazing concept! We’re a feel good race who loves to feel like we make a difference. This is one way you can.
I ask you again, “Could someone else benefit from your knowledge, your contacts, your expertise, etc.? Did you let them? Have you made a difference in someone’s life?” What would your answer be now?
Best wishes,
Coach Dina Blas
Dina Blas is a Confidence Coach and Motivational Speaker in Dallas, Texas. Visit http://www.DinaBlas.com to learn more about her services and to request a free 30 minute phone consultation.
© 2009 Dina Blas. The author grants reprint permission to opt-in publications and websites so long as the copyright and by-line above are included intact and the article is not used in spam. A courtesy copy of your publication is appreciated.
Dina Blas is an Inner Healing and Confidence Coach who helps her clients who have experienced childhood trauma break the toxic relationship cycle and rewrite their story. Learn how to let go of your past and step into your power by contacting Dina today via her website www.DinaBlas.com or by joining her private community here: https://links.dinablas.com/Community
I believe we all have neglected to share knowledge or experiences at some point. I don’t believe this neglect is due to our selfishness or inability to express ourselves properly; I believe our neglect to share knowledge or experiences is because of the fear of rejection and the fear of strangers. We all hear that voice in our heads telling us to lend a ride to the mother on the busstop with two small children. I know I’ve heard that voice before, but I don’t always stop because she’s not in my comfort zone – she’s a stranger. I even hear the voice in my head telling me to correct a colleague’s misuse of words or grammatical mistakes, but most times I don’t because I fear them rejecting me, rejecting my knowledge. It is sad to say, but fear causes us to miss out on helping others and consequently feeling good about ourselves. I can attest that when I have chosen to give a stranger a ride, or tell a young man to pull up his pants, or tell a young girl the correct way is “You are..” and not “You is…” or share my stories of extreme adversity with women who are going through what I’ve been through, it does make me feel good that I’ve lended a helping hand, and it always surprises me that they have never rejected me and are ready to accept my gesture or hear my advice. Doing good is contagious. Helping someone or sharing with someone causes them to want to help and share with others. Then, it’s like a domino effect. I can’t help but now think about all the times strangers have helped me and shared their experience and expertise and how it has boosted my knowledge and capabilities. You know, I believe in a divine power (GOD) who causes all encouters and interactions to happen for a reason. That reason, I believe, is to interact in godliness, to always be friendly and helpful. We do lose sight of this because of fear, but fear is of the enemy and the enemy’s goal is to keep the world divided and callous. And it’s true, sometimes people just want you to listen. Even lending an ear is a way of helping. Now, as I am responding to this parent post, I am reminded of the many times I’ve heard that still, small voice tell me to invite that stranger to church or invite that co-worker to church, and I ignore it. I can’t help but wonder what my fear has caused those individuals to miss.
We exchange energy with people for a reason. We are characters in God’s play. He wrote the script and we are to just live our roles. People fail to realise that God can use anyone to bless us. He can use anyone to teach us. We can’t judge the person. We really should not judge people at all. God can use a stranger to bless you and you may miss that blessing for assuming that a well-known individual will bless us. Let God be God. Let Him order your steps. You have enough to be worried about by just being you. Get out of His way and allow Him to control your blessings. It’s funny how we shoot prayer requests to God and ask His Will to be done; yet, we try to control and influence His Will. If He needed our help, He wouldn’t need us to pray to Him. We should be humble at all times and always consider that the very person we mistreat will be a person we may need in the future. It’s hard to be consistently bubbly and always happy. But, it doesn’t take much effort to smile or say “thank you” or “please.” It’s small things like manners that have the BIGGEST impacts…
Making a difference. No matter what you do, someone is watching you. What book are you allowing them to read? What “golden nuggets” are you giving them to apply to their lives? In your living book is there a chapter on charity? Is there a chapter on respect? What about ethics? How about family values? I believe one misconception we have is everyday individuals can’t have the same impact on society as the rich as famous. While the rich and famous may have a bigger audience temporarily, those of us who are equally as rich in kindness are in a better position to build more meaningful relationships by making ourselves available. In football there’s a stat analyst track called YAC yards, or Yards After Catch. The idea is once the ball is in the player’s hand, what will he/she do with it on their own? This gives an indication of how good a player is. What if our “RAK” yards, Random Acts of Kindness, were tracked. How would we measure up? Would our stats say we were a blessing to others, too selfish to give, or not enough acts of kindness to score? What are we doing with the blessing we have been bestowed with? The thing about making a difference and random acts of kindness is that anyone can participate at any time. So just as others have inspired you to become who you are today, pay it forward by encouraging, helping, or supporting others. Good deeds never go unrewarded. If you are looking to grab more blessings, you must first release the blessings you are currently holding in your hands.
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