dailydatewithgod

In the world of adult learning there is emphasis placed on knowing what the WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) is for one’s audience. If you can know what their WIIFM is then you will more readily capture and keep the attention of the learner.  It is a concept used broadly and certainly has merit.  We tend to approach life in this way.  We look to people and situations to determine what they have to offer us.  We hold the expectations that people or circumstances are designed to meet our needs.  If reading this in black and while makes us sound rather selfish and self-centered all I can say is the truth hurts.  Now, it is not necessarily all bad.  It is important to have what we need to survive.  The challenge is moving out of survival into a place of thriving and ultimately contribution.  The paradoxical nature of the universe is when we go into a situation focused on what we have to offer instead of what it is offering us, we get are offered more.  This does not mean offering at the sake of our survival but finding ways outside of that which enable us to be an offering to whatever person we encounter or situation we are in.  An offering is not necessarily something tangible.  Since life happens in multiple elements, sometimes the most profound offering we can provide is our attention in the moment.  It is something we have to give, if we choose. All it costs us is taking our attention away from ourselves.  In recovery I learned offering service is the quickest way to get out whatever negative head space I find myself in.  I stop and ask myself, what am I offering myself in this moment by listening to the harsh self-criticism versus what can I be offering to someone else who needs a smile or a look in the eye?  The experience of my heart has shown me when I am offering my presence and attention outside of myself, my mind cannot simultaneously continue on about what I am doing wrong.  My offering to another ends up being my gift.