Difference-Making From the Inside Out

Difference-makers like us strike a posture that is often outward-facing. We're generous and eager to serve. We care, and we give.

But there's a danger to this approach. Unselfish magnanimity has its limits. If you give and give and give, at some point, you will simply give out. 

What to do?

Practice difference-making from the inside out.

I often see burnout treated as if it's a disease. I wonder if it's actually a symptom? Might burnout be a signal that you may be doing the wrong thing (or doing the thing wrong)? Treated this way, burnout can serve as a pointed reminder that you're giving time, attention, or effort that you no longer possess.

You can avoid depleting yourself like this by making sure you start each day by topping off your tank. Practice self-care and self-regulate how often and how much you put out.

Difference-making is done best when it is done from the inside out.

Generosity is not promiscuity. Giving too much doesn't make you a saint, and it's not a sustainable way to serve. True altruism leverages investment and reciprocity. The giver and receiver both have stakes in the exchange, and both benefit.

How did you fill your container before you started giving today? How might taking a moment to replenish yourself help you serve better by difference-making from the inside out?

Scott Perry, Chief Difference-Maker at Creative on Purpose.

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