Just last week in college I reflected on an incident that occurred as regards a computer room .
The college where I work is in a relatively new building less than 5 years old . Since moving into the building the class and course numbers have grown and so there is a lot of pressure for rooms and especially computer rooms.
This scarcity has led to a kind of “Rabbit Burrow “mentality where people are very protective over the room or space they have managed to acquire. It was an aspect of working in the college that I noticed very quickly on my return from Spain in September this year
On this particular day I had an Anatomy class for a 3 hour stint and made a decision to teach the first half and have the students type up their work the second half..jpg)
As there were various classes out on trips I had been informed by my senior colleague that a certain computer room would be free for the day.
When we arrived at the room at 1.15 there was a member of staff there who also was not usually booked into that room and also who had been there since 9.00 am in the morning. Seeing as it was now 1.15 I explained that we would like the room for 1 hour to complete the students work. I presumed that since the lecturer had also taken advantage of this free computer room but had already been there for 4 hours with one class then there would not be a problem.
I was wrong.
I was informed by this lecturer that the students were settled and working and she did not want to move them and intended staying there until 3.00 that afternoon.
At this stage I had to step back, take a deep breath and reflect on where this person was in their life right now and where they were headed.
This also happened in front of 25 students waiting outside the door and so I knew they would be watching my reaction.
We moved off to another non computer room and I proceeded to start a lesson on personal development and the ways in which we attract success in our lives.
Just how many of us need to make that crucial shift and stop selfishly looking around our world for ways to make things better for ourselves and instead look around our environment and discover ways in which we can help others to get what they want.
As the late and great Zig Ziglar said “The more people you help to get what they want, the more people will help you to get what you want”
I believe that when you turn your focus away from yourself towards others or a cause bigger than yourself, you open your mind up to possibility. This shift helps you to invite meaning and fulfilment into your experience and allows you to live according to your highest and most joyful purpose.
Would I have given up the computer room?
Absolutely!
I have learnt a long time ago that by extending myself towards the spirit of giving, I am able to shift the stress and attention off myself and look around my world with a calm and easy set of eyes.
.I know that I am never looked at as a person who is looking to profit at any cost, even at the expense of others and I also know that when we become like this then people mirror our behaviour and we are supported in return.
We remove our ego from the situation and instead of it being all about me it is about us.
People see you genuinely offering service without any expectation of receiving anything in return. The only reward you should ever expect for your giving, is the good feeling, giving itself brings to you.
This good feeling, which comes from giving freely of yourself, is far better than the discomfort and distress, which comes from focusing exclusively on yourself, always selfishly looking around your world, for “what’s in it for me”.
When we foster and nurture kindness towards others, everything in my world changes for the better. As my mind is focused on compassion, exactly that is what I receive from others in return and this allows me to live in a far friendlier world.
Remember that you attract success by the person you become and that you also live in a world, which is a reflection of who you are.
So if you want any level of success in your life and you want to live in a wonderful world with meaning and fulfilment, you can never get what you want, you can only get what you are.
I think the students got the message!