It's Almost 2018... What Story Do We Want To Tell?

Everyday we are met with countless decisions... So many decisions that we often go into a fog and lose sight of the broader context. We get focused on the small decisions and the big picture is often the furthest things in our minds. The solution... Every decision that we make, think "What Story Do I want to tell?"

Service is key! A famous Chinese saying: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” Some of the greatest thinkers have suggested the same thing: The greatest happiness comes when you're in the service of others.

1. What is your passion?
We should only do something if we have passion for it. Passion is the foundation of our giving! And it is not what or how much we give, but it is the act of giving that counts. It’s not simply a matter of choosing the most popular cause to give, but more importantly choosing what is the right cause for us.

2. Giving of our time is most valuable
There is nothing more impressive than someone that gives of their time to serve and help others. This is more impressive than the gift of any amount of money. Regardless of how much we have monetary wise, we all have the ability to give our hands towards a good cause - Our time is invaluable! We will never be happier than when we give of our life to service - Even just a few hours a day or a few days a year.

3. Be proactive, not reactive
I'm sure we have all felt the guilt of being forced into helping or giving of our time. An example that comes to mind is when asked to donate to a friend's fundraiser. We feel obligated to give out of humiliation rather than out of generosity. Giving this way doesn't feel great and doesn't lead to the warm fuzzy feeling we get when we give unselfishly. We need to all be proactive - That is take the time to sit down and think of the best ways for us to give considering our values.

There is no right answer when it comes to giving. We must all work to find the best possible way for us to give. When we unselfishly give, we all have so much to gain in purpose, meaning, and happiness. Wish everyone a great start to November!

This article was written by Ryan Van Wagenen of Cottonwood Heights. Don't hesitate to contact Ryan Van Wagenen if you have any questions about the article or want to collaborate about ways to give in the area.