Don’t ask, “What do I need?” ask “Where am I needed?”

—Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, 17th Century Rabbi

Image from Amazon

These two questions change everything!

The first asks how the world can serve us.

The second asks how we can serve the world.

One mindset seeks comfort; the other creates meaning. Often, we chase what we think we need — success, recognition, security — only to feel emptier once we find it.

But when we ask, “where am I needed?” we discover purpose beyond ourselves.

We see gaps waiting to be filled, people waiting to be helped, ideas waiting to be built.

True fulfillment does not come from what we take, but from where we choose to show up and give.

EXERCISE:

To dig deep into to today’s quote consider reading Adam Grant’s book Give and Take: Why Helping Other Drives Our Success.

“There is no reason to risk what you have and need for what you don’t have and don’t need.”

Image from Unsplash by Gabriel Meinert

This quote made me think of a recent passage I read on greed, by Mark Nepo. A few of his nuggets include:

“The wanting to experience more than one person can…”

“We race through life with one eye on what we have and one eye on what we don’t.”

“Greed is not restricted to money. It can work its appetite on things such as love, success, and travel.”

EXERCISE:

Where are you currently risking what you have and need for what you don’t have and don’t need?

Where is enough more than enough to fully appreciate the richness in your life?

The Quotable Coach

Tag Archives: need

Don’t ask, “What do I need?” ask “Where am I needed?”

Don’t ask, “What do I need?” ask “Where am I needed?”

—Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, 17th Century Rabbi

“There is no reason to risk what you have and need for what you don’t have and don’t need.”

“There is no reason to risk what you have and need for what you don’t have and don’t need.”

—Morgan Housel, The Psychology of Money

EXERCISE: