The purity of giving

Today I had a very good friend of mine who I've known since back in the BBS days reach out to me unsolicited (Hello Susan!).  She just wanted to let me know that she loves me, and that she thinks about me often.  That she was out on her patio and instead of smushing a bug that landed on her, she shoo'd it off instead...  And thought of me.

 

<Blush!>

 

This kind of feedback is good, but it can be a trap that I need to watch out for.  I'm doing what I do because it's the right thing and because I'm driven by an internal compass.  NOT because of the praise and respect of my friends and peers.

 

What CAN happen is that people (me) like the praise and start pursuing the praise instead of "the work".  I liked the praise.  It "made me feel good about what I'm doing", but I MUST keep in mind that it's the work that people are praising, not me.  I must be humble despite the praise and stick to my own internal compass.

 

Seeking approval outside yourself to validate the work you are doing is a trap.  I see that and I reject it.

 

Instead I focus on giving of myself freely, with vulnerability and with sincerity.

 

A GIFT is given without any expectation of repayment, praise or even notice.

 

My ego thanks you for your praise, but my "self" knows better to fall into that hole.  This post is as much about reiterating that to myself, as well as publicly so you can all hold me accountable to that and smack me around if "my head gets too big".  I rely on those closest to me to tell me any things that are difficult to hear, so if you see anything like that PLEASE bring it to my attention.

Reposted from May 20, 2016