In the first part of the Healing-Centered Ecosystems framework, I wrote about the Commitment to Care. For this 2nd part, we turned our focus on our Commitment to Connection.
In this 3rd part, we take a closer look at our Commitment to Contribution.
Commitment to Contribution
Helping others helps us heal.
Science has shown how we experience “helper’s high” when we help others. This means our brain that is responsible for trust, pleasure and connection are activated (J. Moll, 2006). Evidence also shows that helping others helps us in improving our mood, reduces stress and improves our self-esteem. In contributing to others, our level of contentment and happiness increases.
When we contribute to others, we also realize that we are not alone, especially when it comes to struggles in life. In contributing, we find people who are going through their own challenges. People who are also in search of healing, belonging and liberation. We find solace in knowing that we are not the only one going through these tough times and we see each other in our shared humanity. Contributing to the welfare of others also helps us to meet new people. It can amplify the quality of our circle of connections and help build our social network that is crucial for healing. It can also help us shift our perspectives and be grateful of our circumstances.
Contribution is expressed through
Strengths
Service
When expressed through strengths, contribution takes the form of:
awareness of one’s gifts and talents and how they can be used in support of others
knowing how to lead with one’s strengths
doing something that gives flow and enjoyment
prioritizing me time when needed
alignment with purpose and values
inspiring others to help causes
knowing when to ask for help
seeing, acknowledging and validating the strengths of others
noticing patterns of when we utilize or under utilize our strengths
making our strengths visible (character strengths, brain strengths and cultural strengths)
When expressed through service, contribution takes in the form of:
kindness to do good for others or for yourself
volunteering or acts of selflessness
offering expertise as a mentor
checking in with others
involving family, friends in neighborhood or community projects
offering skills share with others
offering to do body doubling with others who need it (for ADHD individuals this is very helpful)
offering a listening ear to a friend or colleague
getting involved with a cause
offer support in onboarding new colleagues
putting skills, energy and personal qualities to work by helping others specially what and who we care for
doing random acts of kindness
allowing others to help us
receiving support
symbiotic culture of reciprocated support
serving others with our gifts
“paying it forward”
encouraging others to lead with their strengths
acting with compassion and empathy not only to one’s self but also with others (human and nonhuman)
helping people see what their gifts are
working towards our purpose and who we want to serve
generosity with ourselves and others
Below is a worksheet you can use to reflect on your commitment to care.
Do let me know how you are receiving these ideas and what is bubbling up for you! I created this PADLET for those who would like to stay in the course of exploring this with me. Feel free to add your thoughts, inspirations, quotes, videos, podcast links around the different commitments.
As I further explore this framework, I would love to hear your thoughts, impressions, suggestions and felt sense when you read through the material. In the coming weeks, I will be sharing the other commitments as well as prepare a downloadable guide with activities and suggested exercises. So please stay tuned!
Source:
Jorge Moll, Frank Krueger, Roland Zahn, Matteo Pardini, Ricardo de Oliveira-Souza, and Jordan Grafman, “Human Fronto–Mesolimbic Networks Guide Decisions About Charitable Donation,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2006.
WHAT ELSE IS BREWING?
LEARNING SESSIONS
Join the next REFUGIA learning session on DESIGNING HEALING CENTERED SPACES (April 12) that I will be facilitating. You can read more about this event here.
NEW PUBLICATION:
Together with Saskia Wenniger and Alex Brooks we recently released a strengths based toolkit for Neurodiversity Education Academy entitled " What's Strong with You? " with 20+ tools, exercises and activities to notice how you use your strengths, recognize patterns in leading and engaging with your strengths and how to make your strengths visible in your day-to-day life.
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