Considering abundance during the holidays
The holiday season has a fascinating way of bringing both pleasure and pressure to our daily lives. Opportunities for warm gatherings and reconnecting with those we love can sometimes be overshadowed by a strong drive to find the right present or give and receive the right things. Arthur C. Brooks offers a way to strike a balance in his Op-Ed article in The New York Times “Abundance Without Attachment”.
He notes that abundance and prosperity have lifted the burden of poverty and fear of starvation for millions of people throughout the world. He also notes that the pursuit of prosperity can often be marred by a level of materialism that can become distasteful or alienating. He presents a compromise of “abundance without attachment”, which means celebrating the abundance without an over-attachment to the things and products that may be a part of this abundance. He suggests that we keep focused on our core values, consider that work can be inherently valuable and not just a path to a pay-off, and strive to accumulate important and meaningful experiences with people rather than trying too hard to give them, or accumulate ourselves, too many things.
I find a parallel to this line of thinking with the types of questions and concerns that employers ask us at CMA to consider and assess when we are looking at candidates to possibly join their company, or individuals within the company who have potential to advance and make a strong contribution to the organization. We are certainly asked to determine key skills and knowledge these individuals may have. But with equal importance, we are usually asked to help determine what type of character these individuals have, clarify their core values and priorities, and consider how these factors are aligned with the principles and vision of the organization. So, as assessors, we find ourselves looking for evidence and data to answer questions such as: “Is this person trustworthy? Will they persevere through rough times? Will they help the team achieve shared goals and objectives? Are they willing to make tough decisions and accept responsibility for these decisions?”
Thus, it appears in our personal lives and in our work lives we should remember to view the holiday season from a perspective that inspires and motivates us to give of ourselves and our time, more so than giving things, and to use our core values and ethics to guide us through this season and the new year ahead. I would like to express my hope that you have experiences of abundance that are meaningful and fulfilling in 2015.
