THE DAILY SPARK

HELP OVER…

“One of the most beautiful gifts in the world is the gift of encouragement. When someone encourages you, that person helps you over a threshold you might otherwise never have crossed on your own.”

Quote by John O’Donohue, Eternal Echoes: Celtic Reflections on Our Yearning to Belong

REFLECTION:

  • Think of someone who encouraged you to take a step you might not have taken on your own. Who was that person?
  • Can you let them know what a difference they made?
  • Is there someone you know who is in need of encouragement?
  • How you can you reach out and encourage them today?

WHO CARES?

Who cares?  It’s a question we don’t ask ourselves very often, but a choice we make every day.  It’s tempting to not care.  If you choose to not care, you’re off the hook.  It’s simply to do as little as possible, avoid too much trouble, ask if it will be on the test, try to stay off the hook, so what… 

On the other hand, caring can lead to heartbreak.  Caring is a chance to make a difference, to actually be involved in what happens next.  Caring puts us on the hook and caring offers a chance to contribute.  When we care, we get to make a difference, and that creates meaning, the path to significance.

FROM:  Seth Godin’s Blog https://seths.blog/

REFLECTION:

  • What are you choosing to not care about?
  • Is there something you have chosen to not care about but could be more involved?
  • Caring does lead to heartbreak, significance and meaning.  What can you care about today?
  • What difference can you make in someone’s life by caring? Take some action… remember love is a verb!

THE WISE

The Wise:

Teach without telling,

Allow without commanding,

Love without possessing,

Care without claiming.

In this way, we harvest eternal importance because we never announce it.

From Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu   Verse 2

Translation by Ralph Alan Dale

REFLECTION:

  • How can you become “wise” today?