The Contribution Challenge

Are you up for a challenge? Taking the contribution challenge for one week could revolutionize your thinking, attitudes and actions!

So what will your contribution be? When most people are asked that question, they immediately think of a financial contribution, but most of the time we  give much more than money. Contributions happen every day in marriages, families, businesses. Every good relationship has to be filled with many selfless contributions.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die." I am reading a book entitled The Art of Possibility by Rosamund and Ben Zander. There is a chapter in the book entitled, "Being a Contribution." The authors do a wonderful job explaining how a person, who is acting as a contribution, thinks.

When you become a contribution, you move away from self-concern and self-focus. You will engage in relationships with others in a way that produces results way beyond your imagination.

The authors give two steps in practicing being a contribution:

1. Declare yourself to be a contribution.
2. Throw yourself into life as someone who makes a difference, accepting that you may not understand how or who your contribution will impact.

Here is the challenge for one week of your life;

Describe yourself in light of contribution for one week. Then cast yourself as a contribution into the week ahead. Imagine how that will create a ripple effect beyond your sphere of influence.

This applies to you marriage, family, friendships, work, church, neighborhood, community, nation and world. Who are you contributing to and how?