Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012

Sometimes what matters most isn’t what a person gives but rather what they’re willing to give up.  I stumbled across this concept, which I’ve paraphrased, while reading last night.  At first glance, the saying seems redundant. It’s not.  A relationship, any relationship, is a delicate balancing act of give and take.  Of the parties involved stepping outside their own needs to see to the ones with whom they’re close.  Through those skilled dance moves, an interesting thing happens, the person’s needs—the ones they might not have been aware they had—get met.  And those are realized in more meaningful ways and on a deeper level than if the individual had rushed forward, set only on fulfilling their own needs.

It’s through the generous act of giving that fulfillment, true base-level fulfillment, is achieved.  But the act of giving something up….  Setting aside our own wants in favor of satisfying another…that has immeasurable value.  Sometimes we do this to please another.  Other times we do it because it’s the right thing to do.  But always, if we slow life just a bit and listen to our inner voice, it will show us the right path to take—whether it’s more appropriate to give or give something up.  If we follow the promptings of that small inner voice, more times than not, enriched contentment will result.