Serving on Empty

Have you ever thought about what it looks like to serve others with an empty tank? What I mean by that is it’s hard to serve others when you don’t take the time to pour into your own heart. 

I’ve found that the passion and ability to serve others rises from our storehouses of joy.

Joy is different than happiness. Happiness is circumstantial. Joy comes from inside and it relates to who you are as a person—how comfortable you are in your own skin. 

Brene Brown, in her book The Gifts of Imperfection, points out that “Happiness is tied to circumstances and joyfulness is tied to spirit and gratitude.” She goes on to say how our experiences of joy “seize us in a very vulnerable way.” 

I can relate to experiencing moments of joy that come when we least expect it, when our guard is down. Those moments strike right to the heart. 

But I also believe we can cultivate joy in our lives by doing things that nurture our spirits. And those things usually involve spending time with loved ones, enjoying deep conversations with our closest friends, or even doing something we love to do. For me that might be getting out on the bike, or checking in on my bees, or playing some nice jazz on my trumpet, or getting the whole family together.

And it's not just a matter of doing these things that speak to our hearts and spirits. Brown observes how those who think of themselves as joyful actively practice gratitude. So maybe it looks like not only spending time doing things we love, but also giving thanks for them, and to them. When was the last time you practiced gratitude with your spouse or best friend?

Too often leaders bang through the lists of things that need to get done, and events that need planned, and trips that need taken, and forget to spend quality time nurturing their own spirits through joyful living and practicing gratitude.

I believe when it comes to leading others by modeling a servants heart, it’s imperative that we make sure our hearts are full. 

How do you nurture your own spirit? What practices do you have in place that keep your joy tank full? Can you relate to serving others on empty?  

Photo by Omar Lopez on Unsplash