All Things Inspired

A gift: Could it have a deeper meaning?

It is that time of year when we ponder the word gift, its meaning and value. Without question, this could be widespread and all-embracing depending upon your perspective. It will be different things for different people. It could simply be something materialistic. Afterall, the definition of gift is a thing given willingly to someone without payment or expectation of something in return. Or, it could have deeper meaning.

For some, life might be considered a gift. Consider what motivational speaker Tony Robbins said, "Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more." This would indicate that there is more to the act of giving than just a material possession. It means that you have something more to give. Something that goes beyond measured value. A value that grows exponentially by sharing with others.

You may still be searching for what your gift is. If you understand the meaning of life and your gift, giving of your gift becomes an opportunity. One we often don't understand or take advantage of. The gift of yourself could be your service to others. It could be mentoring a new or inexperienced teammate to learn from your experience and continue to develop. Our gift most certainly could be and should include quality time with our families. Using your gift to be the best that you can be in your role today, regardless of what that is, is your greatest opportunity for succeeding in giving of yourself. In researching this topic, I found some intriguing insights on some other gifts that may apply to you. They are simple yet often overlooked in our giving. Consider these gifts...

To your enemy - your forgiveness
To an opponent - your tolerance
To a friend - your heart
To a troubled mind - your ear to listen
To the fallen - a helping hand
To your community - your service
To all that lack - your charity and good will for others
To every child - your good example of how to treat others
To those seeking knowledge - your experience and wisdom
To a discouraged soul - your encouragement
To a struggling neighbor - your helping hand
To yourself - your self-respect

In terms of understanding the meaning of a gift beyond the definition of a material thing given, our gift is a value within us, either defined or yet to be discovered. It is a blessing to be shared with others in hopes of impacting their lives, even in a simple way. The value of sharing your gift can be immeasurable. Your gift is valuable yet cannot be purchased. The thrill of receiving is often short-lived. The thrill of giving lasts a lifetime. Here are seven samples of gifts of great value that you cannot buy...

Gratitude - when you have a heart and mind of gratitude, there is no room for negative feelings. Being an example in this regard can be a gift to others.
Leadership - if you can lead or mentor others, you can lift other people up in life. By your example, you show others the path to becoming a better version of themselves.
Positive reinforcement - you can't just point the way; you must encourage others to take action to improve their position in life. Keep in mind that this time of year can be very difficult for some people. You must also have compassion along with encouragement to show them that there are better days just ahead.
Life happens; to us or for us? - in your gift to others, consider that they might be experiencing a down time in their life. It's easy for people to say, "why does this keep happening to me?" Perhaps your gift is the ability to teach others that life is not doing something to them but rather preparing them for better things.
Forgiveness - have you considered that someone that you may have an opportunity to give your gift to, might also be the same someone that may have wronged you at some point in the past? It isn't easy to forgive someone who had done you wrong. In fact, you could consider that this gift is as much to yourself as it is to others, simply because it allows you to exchange hurt and anger for appreciation. Appreciation enables you to have an open heart in sharing your gifts with others.
The wisdom of empathy - sharing your experiences with others and the wisdom you've gained from those experiences can have a profound impact on the lives of others. Wisdom is not an attitude of empowerment over others, but rather a vehicle by which you can express empathy for other people's situations in life.
Joy of fulfillment - when you can observe and embrace the beauty around you, finding moments of positive existence far outweigh the burdensome negative feelings that hold you back in life. The giving of your gift as well as those who receive it can provide such moments of joy and fulfillment. It's a feeling that you can't put a price tag on, but you can enjoy the value of it.

We each have been given a gift in this life. If you are fortunate to have identified your gift, there is no reason not to share it with the world. If you have not yet discovered your gift, take heart for in the next article we will explore identifying your gift and how to share it with others. Until that discovery is made, continue to...

Be inspired! Inspire others!