Energy is one of the most precious things you have. But it isn't unlimited, and it isn't free.
I've built my life around being a source of energy for others. It's something I genuinely believe in. But if I'm being honest, I've been guilty of giving it away to anyone and everyone, including people who don't want it, don't value it, and have no intention of passing it on.
That's not generosity. That's a drain.
Consider the story of Gary the Grasshopper, Ben the Beetle, and Barbara the Butterfly.
They all lived in the same community. Every day, Gary recharged through rest, sunlight, and the act of providing for others. And every day, he poured that energy into Ben, hoping to lift him up, make him happier, more engaged, more alive to the world around him.
Meanwhile, Barbara was right around the corner. She had a vision that stretched beyond their community. She wanted to fly, to contribute, to bring others along with her. But Gary was always with Ben.
One day, Ben wasn't around, so Gary spent the morning with Barbara instead. Something shifted immediately. She matched his energy. She gave it back. They both left the conversation with more than they came in with.
That was the moment Gary understood the difference. It wasn't that Ben was a bad beetle. He just wasn't in a place to receive it yet. And Gary had been so focused on him that he missed the person who was ready to multiply everything he had to give.
When you pour your energy into the right people at the right time, something powerful happens. They become a source for others. It multiplies. When you pour it into people who aren't ready or willing to pass it on, it just disappears.
Energy is a gift. You receive it from different sources, and you get to decide how to use it, who to give it to, and how to protect enough of it so you have a supply again tomorrow.
Today, be a life-giver. Just be intentional about who gets your energy.
Energy is a gift. But a gift given to the wrong person isn't generosity, it's a drain.
P.S. The Optimistic Outlook is a Podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts would mean a lot.
Use Your Gifts,
John Eades
Creator, The Leadership Lens & The Optimistic Outlook