Giving Back to Society
“Giving Back to Society” is becoming more recognized as a meaningful and powerful ingredient in the recipe for healthy lifestyle and sound wellbeing.
Addressing the World Economic Forum meeting in New York, February 11, 2002, Microsoft founder Bill Gates said, “I think it’s a healthy sign that there are demonstrators in the streets. They are raising the question of ‘is the rich world giving back enough?’ “
Many people want to ‘give back’ as a way to live meaningful lives in which they play a contribution and make a difference. Without the ingredient of ‘giving back,’ people tend to search for the less-satisfying aspects, such as the acquisition of more material goods, to find meaning and powerfulness–albeit short lived.
True satisfaction and meaning in life comes from being able to effect a positive change in a state of affairs that you feel passionately about, be it the welfare of a group of people, animals, nature, the countryside, forests, seas or this planet overall–global warming, education, laws on domestic violence.
The dilemma is that many people do not know how they want to make a difference–nor do they stop to think about it or check out several options. Thinking things through is a vital first step; you need to know what it is that you want to achieve and contribute to this world to start doing it.
Set aside two hours to accomplish the following:
o Identify a cause you feel really passionate about.
Think about your local community, child protective services, the elderly who feel afraid to go out at night or are lonely, homeless animals, the planet–anything which stirs your passions and emotions.
o Imagine you had all the time, money and skills you needed to do something about that cause.
What would you do to change things and make it better? Let your imagination flow freely. Brainstorm all the things you would do on this issue if time, money and resources were not an issue. What would you feel like when you achieved the change? How much more energy and impetus and meaning would you have in your life if you were to sit down and focus on just one thing you truly cared about?
o What are you willing to do to start the process?
Write down everything you could do–both realistic and practical and which you could fit into your lifestyle. Break actions down into chunks of actions which need to be taken. Who could you involve to help you? Go to sources of help you would not normally consider and be amazed by what generosity, skills and knowledge they can offer. Who is already working on the areas you want to get involved in? Can you join them and provide a much needed skill, talent or expertise?
o Do something about it!
Take one step to move closer to making that difference every day. Trade watching rubbish on TV or idly surfing the Internet to have a meaningful and powerful lifestyle and sound wellbeing. Get others involved.
What would you be willing to ‘give up,’ to make your contribution and make a difference? On your deathbed, which would be the more meaningful to you: a range of material goods that you can not take with you, or a difference you made, to the wellbeing and happiness of others? Which legacy would you honestly rather leave behind? What are you willing to do to make that a reality?
The deeper you delve into your being to give, the more rewarding and meaningful your act will be.
By: Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD
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Filed under Self Improvement by on Aug 26th, 2010. 