Arrows Pointing Out

I remember when I was on my humanitarian trip in Belize a couple summers ago that one of my leaders said something I'd never heard before. She talked about how she strived to keep her arrows pointing out.

What did she mean by that?

She meant to think about giving instead of getting, to show love instead of wait for it, to focus on the needs of others instead of your own.

Keeping your arrows out means realizing that the world is bigger than you.

We all have things we're dealing with. We all have really hard things we're dealing with. And I'm not trying to belittle those or say that they don't matter.

But having tunnel vision for your own problems and needs won't help you feel better or find solutions.

When was the last time you gave up some study time to do the dishes for your roommate who had to rush out the door without doing them? When was the last time you spent some money on flowers for your mom instead of Chick-fil-A for you? When was the last time the bulk of your prayers was a plea for someone else instead of a wishlist for yourself?

I don't think you're a selfish person. But if we aren't careful, it's easy to become trapped in our own bubble.

Pop that bubble. Point your arrows out.

Believe it or not, helping others with their struggles will help you in yours, more than focusing on yourself would.

Service is the key to happiness, I think. It is nearly impossible not to love someone whom you serve regularly. 

Do you want a better relationship with your Dad?

Do you want to get along better with your roommate?

Aim your arrows in their direction.

It's amazing how giving of yourself fills you with more than you had in the first place. I've definitely found that the times when I've been most able to escape a cloudy time in my life have been when I aimed my inner sunlight at the shadows in other people's corners.

So push aside your own stresses for a moment. Look around you and see who could use a little light, a little lift. Reach out your hands. Flash your beautiful smile. Chase away someone's rainstorm.

And watch how you yourself become bathed in sunlight.