“Significance is all about adding value to others.”

A thought by John C. Maxwell (2017-03-07) from his book, No Limits: Blow the CAP Off Your Capacity (p. 230). Center Street. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

But that isn’t what comes naturally to us. It is also not easy for us to do.

John says, “That’s an uphill journey. Why? Because we are naturally selfish. We automatically think of ourselves first… But selfishness is a downhill habit. Significance is an uphill trait. But it is achievable for you and for me.”

He goes on, “People don’t add value to others when they don’t value them.  So why should you value them? Because they’re people. You don’t need any other reason. Listen, human beings are human. They make mistakes. They say the wrong things. They hurt our feelings. Many people treat us poorly and are not very lovable. Love them anyway.”

He says, “Nothing helps give me greater incentive to extend someone else grace than for me to look at myself. I’ve said and done a lot of dumb stuff over the years. In the moments when I do something wrong, my greatest desire is for others to overlook my stupidity, extend me grace, and forgive me. Only they can do that for me. If that’s what I long for, it’s only fair for me to turn the tables and give that to others. We’re all flawed. We all make mistakes. We all hurt one another. We all need grace. It’s this simple: I will do for others what I desire for them to do for me.”

He continues, “I have my bad moments, but I also have some great moments. And I do the things I should do, think the things I should think, and say the things I should say. Here’s what I know about me— and about you. We are not as good as our best moments and we are not as bad as our worst moments. I’d like to have others give me the benefit of the doubt and see me at my best. So my decision is to value others based on their best moments. When others have done that for me, I’ve always been grateful. It’s the least I can do for somebody else.”

He then says, “You know how you feel when others devalue you, and how you feel when they value you. Doesn’t it make a difference to you? How you’re treated impacts how you feel about yourself and how you treat others. Keep that in mind as you interact with people. When you value others, you start creating a cycle of positive interaction that makes life better for everyone.”

And we want that, don’t we?