Reigniting Appreciation for Others
As a lone wolf entrepreneur on the grind, it can be easy to lose love and appreciation for others. So much of what you hear online these days is “everyone can’t go”, “build in silence”, and “f*ck everybody”. Although these things are all true, sometimes you also have to take a step back and see the other side of things. When you find yourself being overly cold-hearted, detached, and anti-social, it may mean that it’s time to reevaluate and recalibrate.
Having Compassion for Others
Although it may be hard to recognize in today’s world, every human has a tremendous potential for good. When you look at the world, most of what you see are things created by humans, to the aid and service of others. Every building, bridge, and street light was put together by a group of people to help others like you and me.
Just as humans have the potential for violence, conflict, and drama, they also have the potential for love, beauty, and peace. In fact, the potential for good far outweighs the bad. As far as I can see, most people are not violent, menacing people. Most of them are normal, ordinary citizens who just want to be happy and healthy like anyone else.
Although not everybody may be right for you as an individual, or may not serve your path, it doesn’t mean you have to hate them for it. Sometimes the best thing is just to let it go and move on.
Humans Have More Commonalities Than Differences
When you look around at other people, it is important to realize that in many ways, they are just like you are. They chew food the same way. They started off as a child and grew into an adult just like you did. And one day they will pass away just as you will.
Regardless of whether a person is black, white, or brown, young, old, or middle aged, the commonalities far outweigh the differences. In today’s world where there are so many ways to separate and segregate, it can be easy to lose sight of this.
To be able to see yourself in others is the source of true empathy and compassion. When you can only see the “other-ness” in others, you will continue to deny yourself the capacity to love and appreciate. When this is the case, it becomes increasingly challenging to connect with, love, and admire other people. Instead of always inflating yourself and deflating others, try finding more common ground and mutual interests.
Appreciate Others and They Will Appreciate You
Just as you may want to see others achieve their goals, be the person they want to be, and do the things they set out to do, those folks may want the same for you, whether you realize it or not. There’s not a single musician, entertainer, or artist who was ever able to reach any sort of success without the love and admiration of an audience of people.
When you work a customer-facing role and people come in to spend their hard earned money in your establishment, they do it because to a certain degree, they support what your business is doing. They are just there to contribute and enjoy what you are providing. When you recognize this and appreciate it, others will appreciate you as well.
When you give love to others, love will usually find its way back to you, and this is not something to be taken for granted. There have been so many times where I have experienced firsthand the generosity, kindness, and compassion of others, sometimes in the most simple but impactful ways. Don’t let a few bad eggs pollute your perception of the world.
Final Thoughts
As a young, 28-year-old, I’m incredibly excited about the bonds, friendships, and relationships to be formed as I continue to move forward in life. Although a lot of entrepreneurship is being “better off alone” and so forth, the other side of it is that there are a million others on a similar path who would love nothing more than to connect and be a part of that journey—people who will love you for who you are and who can’t wait to meet you and appreciate what you have to offer.
