In my last blog post, while discussing how to stay positive, I suggested one strategy for positivity would be to be a blessing in someone’s life. I’d like to spend this blog posting discussing a little more about how to be a blessing.
School teacher Sharon G. Larsen once said, “You don’t have the power to make rainbows or waterfalls, sunsets or roses, but you do have the power to bless people by your words and smiles. You carry within you the power to make the world better.” Larsen was describing the impact of small gestures. Blessings don’t need to be grand, expensive productions. Little acknowledgements of someone’s humanity go a long way. Be a blessing simply by letting someone know you’ve noticed them.
The power of this acknowledgment is expressed beautifully in filmmaker James Cameron’s science fiction epic Avatar. The alien creatures in the film, the Na’vi, greet each other by saying “Oel ngati kameie,” which in their language means “I see you.” This greeting is an assurance that another living being has noticed you, feels you, and is happily sharing the world with you. In the film, “I see you” is both romantic and friendly, representative the Na’vi’s belief in the interconnectedness of everything.
Back in our world, find your own ways to acknowledge people. In business, it could be small gifts or personalized notes included in shipping materials. Bring your employees together for charity work during the workweek so your combined efforts have a larger impact. Support your employees’ efforts to affect change in their own lives, too. That could be by offering financial support, use of company facilities, or granting workers “Charity Days” away from work that doesn’t count against their vacation or sick time.
It doesn’t take a lot of money to be a blessing in someone’s life. It takes attention and honesty, empathy, and understanding. We might not have the power to make a rainbow, but we can hold the umbrella during a storm.
Jack Fallon
