As an officer of my Toastmasters club, I attended a leadership event over the weekend. One presenter showed a picture of two people on some steps. The one higher on the steps was reaching down to grab the hand of the person below. He had two really good lessons taken from the picture.
First, he said that we should all, “Step up, then Help Up.”
How many times have you encountered someone who truly wanted to help others, but had no real capacity to do so? There are many really giving people in the world, but not everyone is in a position to help very much. I look at it this way: if you have ever flown somewhere, your flight attendants have told (and shown) you that it is critical that – in the event of the loss of cabin pressure – YOU PUT ON YOUR MASK FIRST. Then you put a mask on any children beside you. The philosophy is that you are in NO POSITION TO HELP if you are passed out. You have to be in the physical condition – in the capacity – to help others.
If you truly want to help others more than you are presently able to, then figure out how to “Step Up.” This may mean taking a class, getting in better shape, or starting a home-based business. Whatever it is that you need to do, decide today to get started to get in a better position to serve others.
The second point he made came in the form of a question:
“Am I pulling you up – or are you pulling me down?”
I heard years ago that there were two primary things that will determine how your life will be shaped: the books you read, and the people with whom you associate. Sometimes in an effort to pull others up, we allow ourselves to be pulled down by them instead. I have seen many people throughout my life who went out of their way to help, to give, to serve – only to see the huge toll put on them by the very people they were trying to help.
Let this be a warning to you. I am generally a positive person; therefore, I go into any relationship with a positive expectation of a good friendship developing over time. My only request for you is to be on the lookout for warning signs. When you offer to help, is the recipient truly thankful – or is the attitude something like, “Well, thanks, but I really need more than this”? Or, does the other person contact you asking for more help shortly after you helped them? These may be signs that they are only wanting to see what they can get out of you.
Step up, then help up. With a little wisdom and common sense, you truly can be a real blessing to many people. Go see whom you can bless today.
