You Keep What You Give Away
We live in a consumption society. One where we're fed products, ideas, and information. You even reading this is a sell. A selling of a concept that you've heard before, maybe even practice on an irregular basis, probably when you've been reminded of its value.
Reciprocity. Short-term investment in a long-game reality.
You get to keep what you give away.
Those of us who are or have been stuck after believing the achievements we've built over decades was the point, have come to realize that we missed the plot. We were to have lived with a purpose meant for us. Doing the things we felt provided us the stuff we can mark as the meaning of life; career, family, collection of things.
I imagine right now you're at the point of a decision needing to be made. Continue reading or abandon now. What is this AI slop, you may be thinking. Whelp, it's not AI, it may be slop, but it's also where I've hit the crossroads of believing in a process and dream of pursuing things in such a way where I feel like it was all worth it or not.
Sacrifices and cost had me in a reflective moment over a period of years, yes years, where I found myself wandering and pointing towards the old idea I had of service. A boundary-less position taken with the trust that everyone wants to learn, become better, work together as a team. I hit a point where, although some of that may be true, I realized some just aren't ready to do what it takes or hear from those who may have the experience to share where they may use takeaways to give them leverage for their path.
The law of reciprocity is not a nice idea. It's a system. And like every system, it doesn't care about your intentions. It doesn't care about what I think about how it all should go down. I'm learning I shouldn't care the same way, either. People are, people so, why should it be (name that tune).
What you put out comes back. Not always from the same direction. Not always in the same form. But it comes back. The one who gives opportunity tends to find it. The one who withholds tends to find distance. Because the system is working exactly as designed. The cheat code is to not try and force my way into wanting or expecting others to respond like the vision in my head. Just because I feel a certain type of way doesn't mean anyone else will and being disappointed in that is my signal to get out of my feelings without losing my passion for helping others. Push and keep moving forward.
Here is where most get this wrong. They think reciprocity is transactional. I give this, I get that. That framing turns generosity into the moment you start keeping score. If you're there, you have already lost the point. Real reciprocity is not a trade. It's way of moving through interactions, relationships, and conversations that says I am here to add to this, not extract from it.
The other side of this is equally true. There are those who give constantly and never ask, or worse, never accept or refuse offers from others. They think that makes them generous. It doesn't. It creates tension in the people around them who want to reciprocate and never get the chance because of pride, ego, or a misunderstanding of what relationships need. Giving without receiving is not virtue. It's another form of withholding, just in the opposite direction.
We're living lives of consumption in a world that has lost the point of give and take. Sharing is the way to build strength, teams, community...family. Receiving is the other side of it. It's a process that requires both to work effectively. Learning how to receive is just as important as what was hammered into us early on about sharing.
Give what you get. Receive what you get. The math will math.
Oh, and don't be a #$@&.
LIVE FREE. STAY TRUE.
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