Reflections on Generosity
Kick off your week with a 5-minute reflection on generosity to ground yourself as you go about your fund development tasks. Each reflection includes a question to ponder throughout the week to aid your work.
Reflections on Generosity
92: Execise of Virtue in the Face of Indecision
“...Confidence is that feeling by which the mind embarks in great and honorable courses with a sure hope and trust in itself...”
This week, I’m reflected on the words of Cicero as weaved through several of his works, published between 89 BC and 43 BC.
Reflection questions:
- Is there an area where you are stuck in indecision and procrastination?
- How can you bring confidence, hope, or trust in a good outcome to that area of indecision?
Reflection on quotes:
This week, I’m been thinking about the effects of indecision and procrastination. Why does it become so hard to take the first step? To follow though? To pick up the phone? To schedule the meeting? To write the letter?
Our indecision and procrastination not only affects us, but it robs donors of the joy of generosity when we delay giving them the opportunity to be involved. Indecision can steal from our nonprofits when we wait too long before asking a donor and they move onto a different cause. When we are stuck in the misery of indecision and memories of past blunders, we must reflect on the great and honorable causes that we serve. And, trust that there is a beautiful space of generosity when we invite donors into that space.
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Music credit: Woeisuhmebop
Welcome back. This podcast explores the beautiful space where generosity occurs through ancient and modern writings from all cultures, seeking deeper wisdom for fund development work. If you like this podcast, please rate or review in your favorite podcast app.
This week, I’m been thinking about the effects of indecision and procrastination. Why does it become so hard to take the first step? To follow though? To pick up the phone? To schedule the meeting? To write the letter? This week, I’m reflected on the words of Cicero as weaved through several of his works, published between 89 BC and 43 BC.
Quote
Man is his own worst enemy.
Unquote. He remarks.
For nothing stands out so conspicuously, or remains so firmly fixed in the memory, as something in which you have blundered.
Unquote. He explains.
Now, do you think this could possibly happen to a wise person, to be subject to distress in this way? That is, to misery? For every emotion is a misery, but distress is a very torture-chamber. Desire scalds us; wild delight makes us giddy; fear degrades us, but the effects of distress are worse: gauntness, pain, depression, disfigurement. It eats away at the mind and, in a word, destroys it. This we must shed; this we must cast away, or else remain in misery.
Unquote How do we move past misery? He writes.
It is not enough to possess virtue, as though it were an art, unless we use it. For although, if you do not practice an art, you may yet retain it theoretically, the whole of virtue is centered in the exercise of virtue.
Unquote. And, he remarks on the effects.
More is lost by indecision than wrong decision. Indecision is the thief of opportunity. It will steal you blind.
Unquote. He then gives a replacement virtue.
“Confidence is that feeling by which the mind embarks in great and honorable courses with a sure hope and trust in itself.”
Unquote.
Our indecision and procrastination not only affects us, but it robs donors of the joy of generosity when we delay giving them the opportunity to be involved. Indecision can steal from our nonprofits when we wait too long before asking a donor and they move onto a different cause. When we are stuck in the misery of indecision and memories of past blunders, we must reflect on the great and honorable causes that we serve. And, trust that there is a beautiful space of generosity when we invite donors into that space.
Let’s reflect on two questions:
Is there an area where you are stuck in indecision and procrastination?
How can you bring confidence, hope, or trust in a good outcome to that area of indecision?
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