sharing is caring
/I was pissed when I learned that my nickname was “Pom-pom.”
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Apparently the guy who doled out sometimes-derogatory monikers at my job saw me as a cheerleader, which I took as an insult at first. I was a hard-working marketing director and I didn’t want to be seen as someone who just put on a show. I just really felt like jumping up and down and telling everyone about the products and services I believed in.
…
oooooohhhhhhhh …
Suddently that name made sense. Maybe he wasnt teasing me after all!
I still revel in spreading the good word about things other people could benefit from. My business accountability partner’s free pain care e-book. The online bookshop that benefits your favorite local independent shop with each purchase. My favorite places to eat (there are FAR too many of those to link here).
When negative feelings start to surface about what someone else might be doing—jealousy, unhealthy competition, an overblown ego, etc—I try to take some cues from what I’ve learned in my Tibetan Buddhist meditation classes and attempt to turn those feelngs around and send out positivity, usually in the form of sharing in some way.
A couple of weeks ago this post by @thesupportSIStem (an Instagram community lifting up women and girls) started blowing up my feed: “I dare you to promote another woman’s business after reading this.” I was tagged in a few Stories by my colleagues, and I couldn’t wait to join in. I spent a solid 40 minutes tagging every woman’s business I knew on IG, and I felt so encouraged. Getting comments and surprised thank yous back from friends I hadn’t connected with in ages—as well as women I admired from afar—felt like being part of a big nurturing family.
We can perform acts like this every day, in far less than 40 minutes. Here are a few ideas for you:
When you’re scrolling social media, like, comment on, tag a friend on, share and/or save posts from folks whose work delights you. All of those actions help boost that content. And here’s a tip: I’m not sure if this is still the case, but I learned from yoga business coach Amy McDonald that comments of four or more actual words—not emojis—on an Instagram post are what can help that post stay active within the ever-changing algorithm. So say something meaningful!
If you know someone who could fill a need for someone else, help make the connection—whether that’s in person or (as is the case most of the time now) online. And, as Bridget Jones’ friend Shazzer says, introduce them with thoughtful details, so they have an immediate connection.
When you are sharing information you learned from someone else, make sure to give them credit. A simple “According to so-and-so …” lets your listeners know the source of the information and gives them the chance to dig deeper if they wish. And support those sources financially, too—purchasing a book or music is what puts food on the table.
Not sure how you could benefit someone? Just ask. They will be delighted that you are interested and took the time to inquire, and they will be thrilled that you’re willing to amplify their message.
The day I picked up the gauntlet from @thesupportSIStem, I pulled the 6 of Pentacles card from my herbal tarot deck. This card features a person holding a bag of prosperity (“money, talents, information, compassion, or energy,” according to the guidebook by Michael Tierra and Candis Cantin) and sharing it with another. The authors noted that the city behind the person signified cooperation. They urge us to feel good about these exchanges, to give from the heart to help the other, and share without depleting ourselves.
How are you cheering for other people these days?