GivingAsMeaningPurpose

ISSUE: Giving as Meaning and Purpose

CONVENER(S): TedErnst

PARTICIPANTS: RuthannPrange, MichaelYacavone, AshleyCooper, CourtneyGarron, JillPerkins, RaejeanKanter

SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION, KEY POINTS, CONCLUSIONS, ACTIONS:

This conversation went all over the place so it's really, really hard to summarize. We also came up with some diagrams that may or not make it to the web.

• Meaning
  • in negotiation
  • create from action
  • the one thing motivating you
  • personal
• Purpose
  • is an end

Giving while seeking meaning is different from giving as meaning.

A child gives without intention, just as being. Growing and learning intention, creates giving. Giving is mindful.

Our authenticity is really all there is to give. Where can we be authentic/safe? Nowhere. There is no safe place so we just have to do it. We may have more fear in one place than another.

We have free will and can make choices.

Judgements can stiffle the impluse to give.

When we appreciate the best in the other, we are more likely to give.

Receiving is also a gift.

When we are being authentic, giving & receiving cannot be seperated.

It's not a gift if the receiver doesn't want it. Sometimes the gift is not what you think it is. The sweater from grandma may not be the gift. The gift could be her love. She may also not be giving a gift at all, but manipulation/control. We can then maybe choose to find a gift in that as well, for example learning about how to not give in to that manipulation/control.

We give and receive not just resources but satisfaction, acceptance, joy, etc. plus sometimes resentment, guilt, etc.

Trust - We make strings on our "gifts" because we don't trust. We don't trust b/c we use our experiences to view the other person and thus don't see the best in them.

 
          inaction
     /-----------------\   .
    /     LEARNING      \  .
    |   /----------\    |
    |  /   comfort  \   |discomfort
    |  \    zone    /   |
    |   \----------/    |
    \       ZONE       /  
     \----------------/ 
    inability to integrate