Motivation Mondays: Add Value

“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” Albert Einstein

Motivation Mondays: Add Value – We all do our part

If you make it your goal to always find a way to add more value to people’s lives than anyone else, then you’ll never have to worry about success. Tony Robbins
The value of life is not in its duration, but in its donation. You are not important because of how long you live, you are important because of how effective you live. Myles Munroe
Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe. Oprah Winfrey

How are you adding value to the lives of others? With a group of special events; Mother’s Day, May Day and Cinco De Mayo behind us, I got thinking about how these events were created and how we all can play our part in making life a bit easier for others around us. Whether we work at home, in an office or travel on the road, each of us can add something special to the lives of people around us and those we meet elsewhere. As a mom, I support my kids in many ways by creating moments where we can explore issues around trust, goals, responsibility, teamwork, relationships, our shared beliefs and history. With each opportunity, we learn to add value to our interactions, to build on what we already know and strengthen the bonds we share.

By the same token, we can create similar bonds/learning moments with others who enter our space. To add value to others lives, we need to feel invested in their well-being, solicit their support/feedback, and want the best for them too. Some of us feel that we need to be in positions of authority to have an impact on the lives of others but, that is not true. WE can make a difference by lending an ear, sharing information, being of assistance and helping people overcome debilitating habits or fears. When we motivate others to be the best they can be, we ignite a light in our hearts that motivates us to be better.  In small and large ways, we can all contribute to our communities by lending a hand to someone in need.  How are you implementing this in your life?

A Story: Adding Value To a Thief’s Life
The great Buddhist saint Nagarjuna moved around naked except for a loincloth and, incongruously, a golden begging bowl gifted to him by the King, who was his disciple. One night he was about to lie down to sleep among the ruins of an ancient monastery when he noticed a thief lurking behind one of the columns. “Here, take this,” said Nagarjuna, holding out the begging bowl.
“That way you won’t disturb me once I have fallen asleep.”
The thief eagerly grabbed the bowl and made off — only to return next morning with the bowl and a request. He said, “When you gave away this bowl so freely last night, you made me feel very poor. Teach me how to acquire the riches that make this kind of light-hearted detachment possible.”

“There is a plan and a purpose, a value to every life, no matter what its location, age, gender or disability. ” Sharron Angle

Motivation Mondays: Add Value – We all do our part

Motivation Mondays: Add Value – We all do our part

Service is taking action to be of value to someone else. Ron Kaufman
My mission is to add value; my attitude is of active curiosity and my method is through relationships of trust. – Francois Baird
The more we put helping others first…and focus on adding value to other peoples lives, the more abundance flows our way. It’s a win win all the way around. Social Strategizer
Smiles add values to our face. Love adds value to our heart. Respect adds value to our behavior. And Friends and Family add value to our life… – Unknown

What are Your core values?  The dictionary definition explains that core values are the guiding principles that dictate behavior and action. Core values can help people to know what is right from wrong; they can help companies to determine if they are on the right path and fulfilling their business goals; and they create an unwavering and unchanging guide.
From the time we are born to the end of life, we are exposed to beliefs and values that we learn from our parents and those around us. We learn a moral code of conduct, a set of values that help us grapple with the yin and yang of life’s many challenges. How we conduct our lives is often brought into clear relief to help us internalize what we learned or, as some say, to remind us that the values we live are those that were inculcated in us.

Our choices might not always be black and white; sometimes they include gray areas that force us to go back to basics and revisit the principles we learned from childhood. Yes, those rules that mom and dad intimated would help us navigate the world and stay out of trouble, do stay with us; rules like sharing and caring, do matter. Our core values impact our relationships and interactions in the larger world so, it is imperative that we work on ensuring that what we teach and practice are values that will help our loved ones and others to achieve their dreams too. How are your core values being implemented?

A Story: Adding Value To A Bandit’s Life
Buddha was once threatened with death by a bandit called Angulimal. “Then be good enough to fulfill my dying wish,” said Buddha. “Cut off the branch of that tree.”
One slash of the sword, and it was done! “What now?” asked the bandit.
“Put it back again,” said Buddha.
The bandit laughed. “You must be crazy to think that anyone can do that.”
“On the contrary, it is you who are crazy to think that you are mighty because you can wound and destroy. That is the task of children.
The mighty know how to create and heal.”

The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for April and May 2016 are:
April
04/04 –  Youth – 6 Intn’l Day of Sport, 7 World Health Day
04/11 –  Siblings Day
04/18 – Patriot’s Day,  Tax Day, 22 Earth Day
04/25 – Passover, 27 Administrative Professionals Day,  30 Jazz Day

May
05/02 – 1 May Day, 4 Star Wars Day, 5 Cinco de Mayo, 6 National Teacher’s Day, 8 Mother’s Day, 8 VE Day, WW II
05/09 – 13 Friday the 13th
05/16 – 20 Armed Forces Day
05/23 – 24 Victoria Day (Canada)
05/30 – 30 Memorial Day

Are You Looking for Ways to Stay Creative in 2016?

– Join the Daily Post Post-a-day or Post-a-week Challenge.

— Join the BlogHer Writing Lab

More Below!

“Making Life a Celebration – Only when festival and values merge does life become a true celebration. Many a times we sacrifice values for our pleasures. To cultivate values we need a lot of patience, effort and time, but to destroy it is easy.” —Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

Motivation Mondays: Add Value – We all do our part

Motivation Mondays: Add Value – We all do our part

Be the type of person that no matter where you go or where you stay, you should always add value to the lives of those around you. Anon
I learned the value of hard work by working hard. – Margaret Mead
Intentionally adding value to others today will bring you fulfillment every day. John C. Maxwell.

What does this mean in the scheme of things? Values: Values especially of a traditional or conservative kind  are held to promote the sound functioning of the family and to strengthen the fabric of society. When we make a decision to change the direction of our own lives, we often find that we are drawn to guides/angels/mentors who support our effort. When we value our loved ones and our community, we make sure that our actions are in line with effort that will make a positive impact on the lives of those around us. We can become motivated to help others in our daily interactions by offering assistance where it is needed and sharing valuable information that can help others grow.

Even as bloggers, we can make a commitment to include information that uplifts others when we write. We can share a tidbit that helps a visitor in some way. Frankly, the secret to success is helping others succeed. So how do you plan to be that point person who improves the lives of others?  Go do it!

A Story: Adding Value To Nature & Our Own Lives
Many centuries ago, there was an old Native American who was called Dancing Bear, who belonged to a tribe now known as the Sioux. He had lived a life with much enjoyment of the little things, and as the years passed he began to feel pulled to go to a tall mountain that his tribe would pass by in their travels once a year. He found himself wondering what it would be like to climb to the top of that snow-capped mountain, and to be so very close to the golden sun, the vast sky and the moon. And so the next time his tribe traveled by the mountain, he told his family that he was going on a vision quest. When asked if they would be physically seeing him again, he said probably not — that he felt ready to enter the spirit world, and they were accepting and respectful of it.
And so he left on a cloudless morning when the sun had just peeked over the horizon, enjoying the solitude and the beauty of nature all around him. Sometimes he chanted softly, or said a prayer, or stopped to look at something.
That evening he came to the base of the mountain where he found a cluster of tall oak trees, and he sat below one as the stars shimmered overhead… and after enjoying the sights and sounds and smells of nighttime for a while, he quickly went to sleep.
He dreamed of the sun and the moon becoming one.

The next morning as the sun bathed him he started the arduous journey uphill, feeling the air get cooler and cooler, and was glad that he had wore his furs. Then he reached where the snow began, and the wind became extremely chilly. Though he began feeling very tired he was determined to reach the top, and so on and on he went.
Finally he walked up a knee-deep snow-drift that was near the crest, when he stumbled, and rolled down the steep slope for quite some distance. When he finally reached the bottom where the slope evened off his body ached, he had snow down his furs, and could no longer feel his fingers or feet due to the numbing cold. As he sat there catching his breath he watched two large wolves emerge from a nearby group of trees and cautiously approach him. His heart leaped and his instincts screamed at him to run, but instead he laughed and said, “So are you two the ones who are to deliver me to the spirit world? I am ready.” And as he smiled and laughed the wolves sensed his lack of fear, and the friendly sound in his voice, and though they were very hungry and didn’t completely understand why, they sensed that he was a friend. And so they walked close to him sniffing and then rubbed up against him, letting him pet their fur that had never before been petted by human hands. And again he laughed, as the sun overhead grew brighter and brighter until it was all-consuming.

Source: Any Zen Antics stories via Goodweb.cn

Positive Motivation Tip: In small and large ways, we can be of value to others… Do your part.

Motivation Mondays is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.
Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a motivation word to help us create a response. (See listed words for the months above/below)
Email address: You may email or share your post as a comment and I will add it to the round-up of related posts. email it to: contact(@)mirthandmotivation(.)com
Category tag: – Share your post using Motivation Mondays
Twitter hashtag: – Use this on Twitter #MotvnM
Dedicated Page: There is a dedicated page for Motivation Mondays. It has the same instructions and will include other helpful tools and a link to the round-up
Facebook Page: MotivationOnMondays Join our page and add your post and/or any motivational piece you think will be helpful to others.
Facebook Community: We have a Facebook community forum to compliment the page. It serves as another way to share uplifting posts and thoughts. Please join in and add your voice.

Badge: – I created a fun badge using PicMonkey’s free photo editing tools. You can create your own, use WordPress’ integrated tool on your blog or you are welcome to use mine. (see dedicated page)
Tag: – Motivation Mondays
Hashtag: – #MotvnM
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PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: Trust, Teamwork, via Pixabay

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet