There are many ways to live life. Some people aim to follow the generosity approach. Some aim to follow the greed approach. As Mahatma Gandhi is often quoted as saying:
“The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.”
Different people follow these approaches for different reasons. Let’s explore these themes.
The Generous Approach
People who are generous are often grateful for what they have been given. They remember the love, encouragement and chances they have been given by other people. Experiencing a sense of gratitude, they want to pass on similar experiences to other people.
Such people love to give to others. They enjoy encouraging people and helping them to have positive experiences. They also like to enable other people to achieve success.
They like to build on what people have in common and enjoy finding positive solutions to challenges. When appropriate, they also aim to, as far as possible, find win-win solutions to difficulties.
People who follow the generous approach like to plant seeds of hope. They sometimes ask: “How is this going to help people or the planet?” They then do their best to help both present and future generations.
The Greed Approach
People who follow this approach may be rich or powerful but they may not appear to be grateful. They aim to exploit people rather than encourage them. They want to grab more from other people and fulfil their own agendas.
Such people sometimes bully or blame others. They sometimes seem addicted to anger. They start conflicts and use war-like language. They then aim to make sure that they win and that other people lose.
People who follow this approach sometimes behave in ways that hurts people or the planet. They are not interested in the collateral damage they create. People who follow the greed approach simply want more. But for them, more will never be enough.
Let’s return to your own life and work. Imagine that you want to follow elements of the generous approach. Looking ahead, can you think of a situation where you may want to follow this in your own way?
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
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