Purposeful Parent Tip: Building each other up not only feels good. It’s the right thing to do.

I recently watched an episode of Life Class on OWN, Oprah’s new television network. She was interviewing Iyanla Vanzant and they were speaking about their relationship and how they got to be in the place they are today. It’s akin to a boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back story.

I don’t claim to know all the minute details of what happened, but it appeared that these two women met, had a mutual regard for one another, followed by a falling out, and a reunion in which both are flourishing. During the “make-up” show, Iyanla said something that struck me. She talked about how much she believed in what Oprah was doing and that she wanted to see her succeed. So, she put her own needs aside and helped Oprah. She supported her efforts. They reconnected and now Oprah is giving back to Iyanla with her own show.

One could argue that Iyanla had an ulterior motive to helping Oprah. While this is entirely possible, I doubt it. I don’t know Iyanla personally, but she doesn’t appear to be the type of person with a hidden agenda. I do believe it was her heart’s intention to help her friend.

You might ask why this resonated with me so much. I have no ties to either woman, other than being a fan of their work. Iyanla’s proclamation of her intention to help Oprah and support her work so that she could shine is a clear example of reaping what you sow.

By giving of herself, her knowledge, her ideas, her creativity to ensure another person’s success is, in my opinion, the sole reason for her re-emerging success now.

Many years ago, while working with a life coach after my divorce, I struggled with my identity as a newly divorced mother of two children working full time. In our work together, I uncovered my talents, my gifts, and my passions. My coach and I worked on creating my mission statement. She asked me to simply come up with some words that resonated with me and words that others might use to describe me. These are the words that came to mind.

Resource. Knowledge. Helping People. Inspiration.

Those words turned into the following mission statement:

“I am the light who provides the knowledge for people to improve their lives.”

Yup. That’s me. I am a concierge of information and resources. I connect people who might never have met. I share my ideas with people struggling with a problem in their business or personal life. In short, I pay attention when people are talking or sharing their challenges. I file this information away so that when I’m on my treadmill, or reading my local paper, or see a Facebook post, I can retrieve this helpful tip and share it with the person in need.

That’s what Iyanla did. She used the information and resources she had to help another person. In building up Oprah, she ended up with an even bigger gift for herself and others.

This is our job. This is our collective purpose. To love and help others. You may accomplish this by being a great accountant or lawyer. You may love and help others with your healing touch as a doctor or occupational therapist. You may be a mindful parent guiding a child through their life’s journey. Whatever it is you do – whatever your gift, do it with love and with the sincere intention of helping the other person better their lives.

You reap what you sow. Make it a bountiful harvest for every life you touch.