About Purpose is about your purpose.
Aim: Identify and articulate your purpose.
Arm: Shape yourself around your purpose.
Act: Achieve your purpose.
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The Blessings of Receiving
Bob Ryan, About Purpose, Inc. ©2001
Conventional wisdom says, "It's more blessed to give than to receive." I agree, but take a quick moment to see why being good at receiving can be a blessing to you and all those around you.
The Blessings of Receiving
Christmas is all about giving. Why, all you have to do is look at the many store ads, the TV commercials, the wrapped gifts under your tree. And I think it's great that we try to teach our kids about giving with the old, "better to give than receive" adage.
But I also think we do our kids, our employees, our spouses a disservice. Most of us are not very good at receiving. Inadvertently, we rob others of the blessings of giving because we are so poor at receiving. Try this experiment and see how much joy you bring into the lives of those around you.
Look around you and make careful note of how others give of themselves. At work, maybe it's a little thing like always cleaning up the workspace in the morning, or putting extra creative touches on the bulletin boards. Maybe it's a personal thing like the tone of voice when talking to a client, or the warm smile you get when you come in.
At home, maybe it's a habit of warming up the car for you, or remembering to tape your favorite show whenever you work late. Maybe it's just listening quietly while you rehash your day.
Now, say thank you. Make it sincere and specific. Make it clear that you are blessed by receiving their gifts. Be a gracious receiver.
Perhaps this is just another way of giving, proving the point that it is more blessed to give than to receive. But unless we get more comfortable at receiving, unless we can be gracious when someone gives us something, we take something away from their gift of "self." And I would add that we miss putting ourselves in the posture of receiving the most important gift of all - the true meaning of Christmas.
God bless one and all.