Living Life at its abundant

Add Value to Others and Take Care of Yourself

Gratifying our most immediate needs and desires provides bursts of pleasure, but they’re usually short-lived. We derive the most enduring sense of meaning and satisfaction in our lives when we serve something larger than ourselves. Giving to others generates an extraordinary source of energy.

When we worked with cardiac intensive care nurses at the Cleveland Clinic, for example, we were consistently amazed by their commitment. These nurses spent 12 to 14 continuous hours at their patients’ bedsides, often without time to eat, sit down or even go to the bathroom.

Even so, nearly all of them found their work on behalf of critically ill patients deeply satisfying. The problem was that, over time, the jobs became overwhelming.

Encouraged by the hospital, the nurses put the needs of their patients before their own, and believed it was selfish to do otherwise. Many nurses suffered from a phenomenon known as compassion fatigue. Turnover was high.

Consistently sacrificing yourself to serve others is ultimately no better than focusing solely on yourself at the expense of others.

Selfishness is about making your own gratification paramount. Self-care is about making sure you’re addressing your own most basic needs, so you’re freed and fueled to also add value to others.