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Do you give of yourself? Do you make a human contribution to your society? It sounds like you have to donate a kidney or something, doesn’t it? That’s not the case. The human contribution described in this quote is when you personally help another human being. It’s face-to-face, one-on-one giving. Donating a kidney is one way to do it, but there are many other opportunities, and not all of them require surgery.
Part of your destiny is to be helpful to others. It is not to always take and never give back. You may not see a direct correlation between giving of yourself and achieving success, but there is a very strong relationship. If you want to get into the game of success, then you have to participate in the overall game of humanity. That requires a human contribution.
Make a list of the things you do today to help others. Once you have completed this assignment, take a look at your list. Are you proud of it? Is there more you can do?
There are thousands of ways you can lend a hand to those who need help. You can tutor someone who is learning to read, work in a soup kitchen, or collect clothing and food for an organization that serves the homeless population. When was the last time you called a friend just to see how they are doing? Have you hugged your child recently? The only requirement is that you pay attention to someone else. Don’t just write a check this time. Give a human contribution.
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How do you know when you’re wasting your time? Sometimes you go down a road you probably shouldn’t have taken, and you end up having to backtrack. You try a new technology that doesn’t quite work for your business; you court a potentially lucrative client for several months only to lose them to your competitor; you move to a new town hoping to find work but ending up further in debt. Valuable time is wasted. Often, you don’t figure out you’re on the wrong path until you’ve gone too far. The road back to where you started is full of regret.
Life is full of good and bad choices, victory and regret. However, there is good news: you will never regret an act of kindness. There is always something positive to be gained through lending a hand to another person, no matter what the outcome. An act of kindness is never wasted.
Let’s say you give a warm coat and a new pair of shoes to a homeless person. Is your act of kindness wasted if they turn around and sell those items for drugs? The answer is no. You cannot control what others do, but you are in complete control of your own actions. If you choose to act kindly toward someone else, you are honoring that person and contributing in a positive way to the world around you. You are creating positive energy for yourself and your community. The choices they make afterward are none of your business. Most often your act of kindness will send a positive ripple effect throughout the world that is extremely influential. Choose acts of kindness today, big and small.
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Your assignment today is to make a list of all of the things you have been given just because you showed up here on earth. What are your natural talents? Are you healthy today? What interesting and wonderful people have you met so far on your stay here? What has given you joy? If life is a giant party just for you, what are some of the best presents you have received so far?
Now here’s the catch: all of the wonderful things you listed are technically not free. There is a price you must pay for your room here on earth. It can’t be settled by cash, check, or credit card. This world wants a part of you.
Your service to others is direct payment for your life on earth, and it should not be paid unwillingly. It is a privilege to make this contribution. You have been given a huge number of gifts just for showing up at this party, and it’s time to write your thank-you notes.
Before you get started, here’s another secret to keep in mind: service to others is a payment that comes back to you with interest. If you want to really get the ball rolling, be abundant in your thankfulness. Pay your rent in advance—and double and triple the payment. The more you give back to the world through your service to others, the more you will receive in return by ways you have yet to imagine. The entire process is cyclical. In a way, you are the renter and the landlord. You have received so much just by being here. What are you willing to give?
