"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; only what we do for
others remains in the world."
Albert Pine
In his study of the lives of self-actualizing people, Maslow developed a model with a
Pyramid shape, with one’s self-fulfillment represented at its peak. From my
observations of highly fulfilled individuals, that model only goes part way in describing
them. A more helpful image might be an Hourglass shape, which has our own
self-actualization at its midpoint, but then opens outward toward helping others to become
the best people that they can be, and then helping them do that for still others.
As our energy becomes freed up from the struggle with our own issues, we have more margin
to be able to help others. For example, self-actualizers have lives filled with peak
moments because they learn how to create them for themselves and share them with others,
who get inspired to do the same.
We can create a Reverse Pyramid by giving away to others what we would like to get
ourselves.
So when we learn something, we give it away to others, and ask them, that if they find it
of value, that the way to repay us for the gift is to do the same thing and give it away
to still others. And to let us know who they've done that with. Who could you do
that with, with some of these learnings?