Everyday philanthropy means showing love and compassion for others. It means looking outside yourself to see the needs in those around you, whether close friends or complete strangers. It’s a lifestyle, an outlook and a mindset. But, if we’re not careful, we can waver in our mission to care for others if we don’t first take care of ourselves. Perhaps everyday philanthropy also extends to showing love to ourselves. Afterall, they say you can’t truly love others until you love yourself. We think this is an important first step to take before running toward giving back.
Everyday philanthropy on yourself helps you set priorities.
Setting out to make a difference in the world and those around you requires focus. We might not be able to help everyone, but we can help someone. When you take time to value yourself, your unique gifts and talents, you’ll feel more confident in setting boundaries and making priorities. Each morning, before you start your busy day, take a moment to recognize your special contributions to the world and the value of your time spent on helping others.
With that, you’ll be able to say “no” if someone asks you to do something that doesn’t align with your philanthropic mission. Maybe you’re being tugged in different directions to go on vacation, spend time with friends who don’t share your philanthropic mindset, or you’ve allowed work to spill over into your personal life. Showing love for yourself means valuing your time so you can stay steadfast on giving back.
Self love helps you relate to others.
When you’ve taken the time to practice everyday philanthropy on yourself, you’ll understand the importance of being open and available to those around you. Focusing on your own feelings and needs helps you better relate to others needs. How can you truly see someone if you haven’t developed the vision to see inside to your true self? Start being patient, kind and compassionate toward yourself, and you’ll find that it’s easier to show those characteristics to your friends, family and strangers in your everyday life!
Also, studies show that having more self-compassion helps to build resilience in the face of adversity. We all need a little resilience as we set out to make an impact and give back to those who might not always show appreciation or gratitude for our service.
Showing kindness to yourself allows you to let go of perfectionism.
Caring for yourself and showing everyday philanthropy for your own well being means letting go of unrealistic standards that can hinder you from making a change in the world. Many of us think that if we’re going to give of our time or talent then it has to be done perfectly. We get lost in the lie that if we cook for a friend, the meal has to be chef quality, or if we give money, it has to be a certain amount. This is simply not true.
In fact, studies show that chasing perfectionism can harm your mental health. You’ll cause yourself more stress if you continue holding yourself to such high standards when helping others. So, take a deep breath and exhale all those unrealistic expectations you’ve placed on yourself. Feeling lighter already, huh?
Practicing everyday philanthropy on yourself will become easier as you implement it into your daily routine. Start each day with meditation, gratitude and change your mindset to realize that loving yourself is the first step toward loving others. You just might be surprised how much more of a difference you can make in your home, neighborhood and in the world when you see the value you hold within.