this is the blog where we talk about the stuff.

It’s in our best interest to fight our nurturing tendencies.  Because, as opposed to nature and natural selection and all that, nurturing leaves you open to all sorts of insecurities and bumps in the road to your “success.”

For instance, in our jobs.  I’ve held about 4 jobs at the company I work for now.  When I came here, I was 19, a nervous wreck, and extremely homesick.  But the people in charge saw great potential in me.  They were extremely kind to me.  They invested in me.  I don’t say this to toot my own horn, but to praise their generosity in believing in me.  They nurtured a very, very small seed.  They encouraged (and still do) me a great deal.

I never thought about it until today, in the middle of a work conversation, where I would be today if not for their lack of pride and investment.  Because I think to encourage someone means setting aside yourself and looking at someone else and their contribution.  And then I wonder what opportunities to encourage others I have squandered because I was so wrapped up in myself or my own problems to worry about them.

I want to change that.  In my job, in my relationships, in my life in general.  It is much easier for me sit back and be invested in myself as opposed to looking at others and seeing what they could be (and more importantly, what they currently are).

Any thoughts on this?  How do you encourage, nurture, and invest in others?  I’m sort of an introvert, so it doesn’t come easily to me.  I need help!