Why putting others first won't stop us progressing
We may believe that in order to progress and reach our goals, prioritising ourselves before others is the right way to achieve this. However, in only serving ourselves, we limit ourselves to how far we can reach in our own journey and lives.
Backstage at Jacquemus AW19
Photography Christina Fragkou
Creating unified environments
While putting ourselves first may ensure that our personal situations are looked after, when we also make the effort to put others before ourselves, it positively impacts the environment beyond just the one which we inhabit.
In particular, when putting others before us in a workplace, a culture of encouragement and upliftment is created rather than one of competitiveness and hostility. This creates a more unified community where people feel more motivated and supported, meaning they too will work at their best thereby benefiting the bigger picture. When a group of people can work together as a team rather than as individuals, goals and inspiration can be found and reached which are bigger than one person working alone could achieve. These successes also value everyone involved.
‘Aiding others to fulfil their potential does not mean that we cannot achieve ours.’
Greater impact
When we are generous with our knowledge and wisdom with those in our lives, work-related or personal, you might end up giving that person the exact advice they were in need of. Sharing your own skills does not take away from what you have, but it does create an advantage for those you share it with. When we put those around us first and help them, we might give them the exact information they need to go and fulfil their purpose and achieve their goals. This allows for the chance for a wider spread of impact, one of which may not have come about otherwise.
It’s important to remember also that helping others to reach success does not mean that you have failed. We all have different qualities and skills to offer and aiding others to fulfil their potential does not mean that we cannot achieve ours.
‘It is only through these acts of putting others first, we can fulfil our true purpose.’
Fulfilling our purpose
The way in which we choose to treat others around us and help those in our lives is one of the few things we have control over in our lives. In choosing to act from love and kindness, you not only serve yourself but also serve everyone you come into contact with. We all have unique values to add to the world, and it is never too late to begin taking the time to help others.
As ambitious women who have packed schedules, our time is precious, but no time is wasted in putting others first and providing them with the guidance that they need. In Isaiah 1:17, it writes that we should ‘learn to do good, seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.’ It is only through these acts of putting others first, we can fulfil our true purpose of not just pleasing our own interests, but please the interests of others too and therefore God’s too.
While it remains important to ensure we all have time for ourselves, being generous with what we have to offer does not halt our own progression. If anything, helping others adds more to our lives; it helps us to lead a more worthwhile life, to create a bigger impact and eventually those you help might even offer you something in return which helps you progress in ways you wouldn’t have done otherwise.
WORDS BY
Ellie Dalton