Adding Value –
Recognizing that our words,
actions (and the priorities we set), can increase or diminish value; how can we
take personal responsibility in establishing habit patterns that ensure we are
increasing the worth of those around us?
As we have seen in previous
blogs, value is something that WE can determine in our daily actions, and that
value is not always conditional upon the response of someone else. I make it a point of distancing myself from
people that seek to over inflate their own self-worth or diminish the value of
another. Everyone is of equal value as a human being, but not all people are
able to live with that confident assurance.
Those which suffer from a rejection
syndrome, have a tendency to get their value from diminishing someone else’s.
This is often done by the use of criticism, or behaviour that “belittles” and
“pulls down.” Alternatively, the converse applies, when an over-inflated opinion
of self holds the value of others as inferior to theirs.
So how do we know which category
we fall into? Are we insecure in our own self-image, or over confident to the
point that others can’t meet our exacting standards and opinion of self?
· Firstly, be vulnerably honest with one’s- self.
That is easier said than done, as
the image that we hold of ourselves, is rarely the image that is shared by
public opinion. Perhaps the reason why so many people suffer from poor self-image
is because of the influencing power that the media and those around us have,
and who are we trying to please anyway? Be unique, everyone else is taken! However,
let’s not get ahead of ourselves, because everyone on earth is unique too!
Self-image is really an oxymoron. Self is about oneself, whereas image is
perceived by others. What we project is a reflection of our uniqueness, yet so
many are preoccupied with presenting an image that society wants to see, and
that is neither unique nor truly self.
Our goal is not to impress, but
to reflect; but to reflect what?
We were born unique, unlike
anyone else on earth, and within that uniqueness, comes a responsibility to add
worth to those around us who may not as yet recognise their own uniqueness.
There is no greater privilege than being able to impart worth and value to
another human being, and we can so easily do that without finances, (although
this may also be required in some way).
Here are some simple and cost effective
ways of adding value to those around us:
·
Say thank you and mean it
·
Recognise and reward (with kindness) the work of
others
·
Encourage those around you (encouragement is a
powerful resource)
·
Learn to smile and make a habit of doing so to
strangers
·
Pay it forward
·
Send and encouraging post or email to someone
you don’t currently include
·
When the opportunity to devalue someone else
comes along, don’t.
·
Make a mental note of your language. Does it
build up or pull down?
·
Look for daily opportunities to help those which
cannot or will not reward you
·
Invest time into someone who needs it
·
For Christmas, give a gift anonymously to
someone that’s come to your attention
·
Pray for someone, a people group, a Nation, a
neighbour or the needy. But don’t be surprised if a window of opportunity
arises out of your concern, for uniqueness is found in the specialness of
others.
I wholeheartedly believe that the
key to recognising ones uniqueness and personal value is found when our focus
turns away from self. Preoccupation with self, has a way of inflating one’s own
value, where serving the needs of another, increases theirs. The intrinsic
value of that simple act, is the true distribution of wealth.
·
Secondly, prioritise your focus
We pass this way but once! Every
second counts, every hour counts as does each day, week, month, and year. The
younger we are, the less aware we are of eternity, which is why so many young
people believe they are infallible and take risks without due consideration. As
we age, we become more focused on quality than we are with quantity. A job well
done and cause worthy of our investment will supersede any ethereal role that
merely occupies our time.
Gone are the days when our
generation will just mark time with meaningless activity. If there is no long
term benefit for our investment, then what is the true outcome of one’s effort.
Marketing guru’s, understand this well, which is why advertising, profiles “the
effects” of our stake In a product or service and not just the temporal
benefits. Adding value to a product, service or individual is primarily
determined by the focus we give to it. The stronger the focus, the more value
we give.
If you say “my family” is my most
important asset, then how do you prioritise them in your daily schedule? Maybe
you say, an individual is the most important thing to me right now? Then what
value do you give that person based on your time, words, activities and such?
Perhaps you have a goal in life to be financially sound and free of debt? Then
what priorities and habits are in place to ensure that outcome?
All too often, we verbalise a
priority but our activities say different. It’s a contradiction in terms, to
say that we value something but the priority we give to it, actually devalues
it.
Adding value to a product,
service, organisation, activity or relationship, is really about taking the
base elements which are of limited value and placing a higher worth upon it. We do this by:
·
The words we use,
·
The activities we invest into it
·
The priority we award to it on a day by day
basis
The way we approach life on a day to day basis, defines the
value we are giving to it. Action
expresses priority! I can’t ever recall hearing a person’s last words
being, “I wish I had given more priority to the hours I worked, rather than
those I love”. Sadly, we only really understand the value of something when its
no longer in our life. You see, its never about HAVING enough time, its about MAKING enough time. "Priority places added value".
So what are adding value to?
