Generosity is also letting others give
Mrinmoy Chakraborty
Father. Also Founder and CEO, Board Member , SOLiD Inspire; Stanford GSB | IIM Mumbai | Jadavpur University|Doctoral Candidate Warwick Business School
“Generosity is also allowing others to give and accept with gratitude and grace“. I was speaking to one of my mentors, someone I have idolized all my professional life. We met after ages and were catching up on life that is untold in social media's "status".
During one of the toughest phases of my personal life, I had shut myself off from the world and chose to fight the battle alone. Success has taught me how to accept criticisms and even jealousy. But I have always been chronically allergic to sympathy . My ego let me believe that pain does not suit my image of success and happiness, given my Instagram timeline pictures. Many of my genuine well wishers wanted to be my side. But I shunned them all. I found solace in my intentional solitude.My mentor was deeply anguished that I did not care to reach out to him when he would have done whatever it takes to lend his shoulder.
Ironically, some of the most meaningful moments in my life have been times when I had the opportunity to give others. Looking back, I ask myself, during the times when I gave, did I give with love, empathy, pride or sympathy? If it was truly love, then why I did deny others from giving? Was that not double standard? If I can give benefit of doubt to self, why not to others?
Why am I talking about it today?
During the worst crisis of humanity in our lifetime, today many of my friends and families are fighting battles of unimaginable pain. I know many of them have chosen to fight it alone. I wish they show generosity by allowing others to stand by them.
I cannot forget my mentor’s parting word. “ If you do not allow your loved ones to give, why would they trust you to give at times of their need?
General Management | Operator | Incubator | INSEAD
3 年Indeed. Seeking help is a necessary skill too. When we seek help, it does not mean we are necessarily week or helpless or in need of sympathy. We seek help, because we can do something for others and so can others for us (those who care for us). This is applicable both in personal and professional contexts. Nice writeup and thanks for sharing your thoughts Mrinmoy Chakraborty
Managing Director at Atherton Consulting Group
3 年Mrinmoy, I love your depth. You are an incredibly thoughtful AND loving person. Best wishes to you and family, including your role as a father (your first defined identity in your profile).
Counsellor, Product Owner
3 年So true Mrinmoy Chakraborty ! I think many of us are guilty of not letting others give when we need the most.
Cloud Architecture Design | Cloud security | Cloud Migrations | Cloud Transformation | Cloud Operations Infrastructure Automation | CICD | Kubernetes | DevOps Practice | DevSecOps
3 年It again depends on the recieving end how they take things. May be they take things as if the other person is being sympathetic.... also they think that there is some vested interest hidden in... which is not true everytime. I recall a moment when one of my supervisor's son was not doing good healthwise and i just asked about his whereabouts.. the immediate response was "why am i asking so?" which i didnot expected at all. I questioned myself Did i do something wrong? Is that not the way?