Close
Close

Receive “Word for the Day” each day in your inbox

See our Privacy Policy

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Menu Gratefulness Donate
Daily Question, January 15

When has collaborating with others made something better?

  • Malag

    Am struggling to think of much that hasn’t. I’ve got better at it as I’ve aged, something to do with being freer to be vulnerable to share that 2 or more is better than 1 and less arrogant than when I wanted to go it alone.

  • Drew Blanton

    Every time I’m in the hospital I collaborate with God and the medical team to make myself better.

  • Melissa
    Our home burned down in a wildfire. The community scooped us up and helped us find a rental, work with our insurance company and rebuild. They also supported us all through the two years it took to go through the county and building permits. A lawyer whose home burned down in SF came and guided all of us so scammers did not take advantage of the vulnerable older folks, single moms, and all of us who lost our homes. This lawyer showed us the importance of how to maneuver thru the whole process w...

    Our home burned down in a wildfire. The community scooped us up and helped us find a rental, work with our insurance company and rebuild. They also supported us all through the two years it took to go through the county and building permits. A lawyer whose home burned down in SF came and guided all of us so scammers did not take advantage of the vulnerable older folks, single moms, and all of us who lost our homes. This lawyer showed us the importance of how to maneuver thru the whole process without asking for any payment. Our developer even cooked dinner for all of us whose homes he was rebuilding so we could form a pod of support. Just like Don Jones said natural disasters are essential for community collaborating together. Saving folks from so much heartache and gave hope, courage and comfort for all those affected by natural disasters. I will always remember their support and efforts as truly the best of human character. Helping others at their most vulnerable in the most meaningful of ways. I will never forget the community coming together like this for all of us.

    Read More
  • Dusty Su

    I am very independent, a bit of a recluse, and it’s always easier to do it on my own. Or so I think. Yet the rewards of collaboration are infinitely richer, more relaxed, creative, and a chance for the US in community to bloom. We not only fill in the gaps for each other, but we do so beautifully. As a neurodivergent, I have blind spots and appreciate other ways of seeing things. Just as much as I hope others appreciate my odd, yet also insightful vantage-points.

  • Don Jones

    When recovering from natural disasters such as bush fire, floods and cyclones.

  • Hanfa Azad
    Whenever i helped my class fellows and friends in doing maths and understanding other subjects....it made me understand this topics more better and it increased my practise and made my concepts more clear and my friends also shared some of theur thoughts...so basically it increased my clarity of concepts and on tge other side my friends also got to know the concepts better....and my class fellows which were not so brilliant in studies...also did really well in the exams and they always thank for...

    Whenever i helped my class fellows and friends in doing maths and understanding other subjects….it made me understand this topics more better and it increased my practise and made my concepts more clear and my friends also shared some of theur thoughts…so basically it increased my clarity of concepts and on tge other side my friends also got to know the concepts better….and my class fellows which were not so brilliant in studies…also did really well in the exams and they always thank for this

    Read More
  • KC

    Our furnace is almost kaput. We ordered a new one this week. We collaborated on the decision, much better then we would have pre-Covid. Good decision? Hope so. Time will tell. Heat is good. 🌞

  • Pilgrim
    When I worked as director of a retreat house, we had gatherings around many different topics - books, various spiritual leaders' works, topics such as pilgrimage, forgiveness, and variations on daily life. It was always my intention and invitation that I may get the conversation started, but it was a collaborative enterprise among the group, whose gifts and life experiences varied greatly. It took a little getting used to by those in attendance when they were new in the house, but I believe this...

    When I worked as director of a retreat house, we had gatherings around many different topics – books, various spiritual leaders’ works, topics such as pilgrimage, forgiveness, and variations on daily life. It was always my intention and invitation that I may get the conversation started, but it was a collaborative enterprise among the group, whose gifts and life experiences varied greatly. It took a little getting used to by those in attendance when they were new in the house, but I believe this approach provided opportunity for collaboration and sharing, openness to new thoughts and ideas, etc. It was understood as safe space as the conversations could certainly reveal vulnerabilities and possibilities if one was open to the sharing.(Those who didn’t wish to speak in a group were never put on the spot to do so.) I enjoyed watching new friendships being made along the way, hearing of books read and recommended, etc. It was a great gift to me to be within these groups. It was a wonderful culmination of my time in ministry.

    Read More
  • Lauryn
    For many years I worked on local music event production. It meant many people coming together to use their strengths to create something bigger. It’s not that collaboration made these events better, it’s that collaboration is what made them happen, and without this, it would have not been possible to make these events happen. As a different example, my partner and I have different approaches to cooking. Dinners we collaborate on are always better than the ones we cook on our own. It’s ...

    For many years I worked on local music event production. It meant many people coming together to use their strengths to create something bigger. It’s not that collaboration made these events better, it’s that collaboration is what made them happen, and without this, it would have not been possible to make these events happen.

    As a different example, my partner and I have different approaches to cooking. Dinners we collaborate on are always better than the ones we cook on our own. It’s that simple. 🙂

    Read More
  • Paintboxgirl
    The Betterment Of collaboration was when my spiritual awaking happened, I surrendered to the power of the group. I could open my heart and mind to differences, sameness, ideas and that are shared in a collaborative gathering. I collaborate in the kitchen, art studio, bird watcher, or sometimes my lil alters get additions anonymously. I see the results in better understanding of the task at hand the joy in sharing the load. Once we all get busy the differences disappear and the magic be...

    The Betterment Of collaboration was when my spiritual awaking happened, I surrendered to the power of the group. I could open my heart and mind to differences, sameness, ideas and that are shared in a collaborative gathering. I collaborate in the kitchen, art studio, bird watcher, or sometimes my lil alters get additions anonymously.
    I see the results in better understanding of the task at hand the joy in sharing the load.
    Once we all get busy the differences disappear and the magic begins to take hold.
    United for those moments ,we go our separate ways a little brighter.
    I feel stronger, happier, wholesome

    Read More
  • devy

    Over the past year I’ve collaborated with people such as on this site who share common views and practices in regards to gratefullness and acceptance . By sharing common thoughts and beliefs, we are helping each other by reinforcing those beliefs as well as spreading gratitude, compassion and love. I am sure that spreading these views are contagious and others will join making things better for all.

  • Javier Visionquest
    I’m hearing a lot of “. . . makes light work” references! We are beings of light. We exist within a context of light condensing into the forms of denser matter. When, indeed, people around us begin to realize just how much collaboration underpins what we think of as objective reality. . . can you even picture a simultaneous, full scale global awakening? Imagine this window of time that we share as showing up a little early for a concert and as we listen to the orchestra tune their instrum...

    I’m hearing a lot of “. . . makes light work” references! We are beings of light. We exist within a context of light condensing into the forms of denser matter. When, indeed, people around us begin to realize just how much collaboration underpins what we think of as objective reality. . . can you even picture a simultaneous, full scale global awakening?

    Imagine this window of time that we share as showing up a little early for a concert and as we listen to the orchestra tune their instruments and warm up, we believe it to be the main event.

    Read More
    • KC

      What a beautiful metaphor Javier. Thank you!

      ‘Imagine this window of time we share as showing up a little early for a concert and as we listen to the orchestra turn their instruments and warm up, we believe it to be the main event’. Indeed. This is it! 🙏🏻

    • Mica

      beings of light – light work – thanks Javier!

  • Mike S
    When I lived in Seattle I volunteered for a youth at risk after school program called community or youth. We worked with kids who are at risk of failing in school. Each student had an adult mentor. Mentors and their students would see each other weekly doing various activities that would broaden the horizons of the kid. And then we would have workshops as well as activities I took them outside of the city. We had a strong emphasis on values, being true to one’s word, setting goals of life and ...

    When I lived in Seattle I volunteered for a youth at risk after school program called community or youth. We worked with kids who are at risk of failing in school. Each student had an adult mentor. Mentors and their students would see each other weekly doing various activities that would broaden the horizons of the kid. And then we would have workshops as well as activities I took them outside of the city. We had a strong emphasis on values, being true to one’s word, setting goals of life and being part of a community. The success of this project relied on collaboration at all levels…Among staff members, between staff and mentors, and certainly between mentors and their students and among the students himself. It was one of the best experiences in my life.

    Read More
  • Patricia

    Collaborating can usually make a necessary task more fun. Sometimes it doesn’t make it exactly more efficient to do it that way, but you can create a different memory (of getting to know the other and pass the time more pleasantly) instead of focusing on the boringness of the task itself.

  • Carla

    In 2019 I collaborated in an ecumenical Iftar celebration. It was wonderful & spiritually powerful to experience first hand such an intergenerational & multi-cultural event. In 2020 we began planning to repeat it & the pandemic hit. We all were enriched by the relationships we began with each other.. I felt richly blest.

  • Trish

    My mom was deathly ill this summer & because of the covid restrictions things were even more complicated. Collaborating w/ my siblings about who would do certain tasks & be w/ my dad was very helpful. We had a plan & when it didn’t go smoothly we regrouped & replanned. I’m so fortunate to have 4 siblings. We were a team & both of my parents felt very loved.

  • Antoinette

    Collaboration and cooperation almost always makes things better. I just did a volunteer mindfulness meditation session online and it was very peaceful to be able to breath together and appreciate each other’s presence.
    During these corona times I really see how much I appreciate human kindness and understanding. We all seem to be more focused on connecting with love and understanding.

  • Craig K

    I have been struggling with this idea: which is better collaboration or competition? Maybe you need both in balance. Working with others can really make a project work. Competition with yourself and with others (sometimes) can spur people to do amazing things. I feel like maybe the world is out of balance and that is why we are in our current situation. More collaboration, less competition. Thoughts?

    • Craig K

      Thank you for your responses. A lot of food for thought here!

    • KC
      Yes, balance. Yin and yang, perhaps. One offering, In her new book Cassandra Speaks, Elizabeth Lesser introduces a new model for ‘doing power differently’. It includes partnership, interaction, collaboration: it values relationship, empathy, communication: is generous with praise and encouragement, transparent about mistakes and vulnerability; listens, processes, includes. She compares this with the ‘old power story’ which we know well, of strong over weak etc. As you say, competi...

      Yes, balance. Yin and yang, perhaps. One offering, In her new book Cassandra Speaks, Elizabeth Lesser introduces a new model for ‘doing power differently’. It includes partnership, interaction, collaboration: it values relationship, empathy, communication: is generous with praise and encouragement, transparent about mistakes and vulnerability; listens, processes, includes. She compares this with the ‘old power story’ which we know well, of strong over weak etc. As you say, competition has many merits as well, when held in a healthy balance.

      I honour your struggle, Craig. Maybe we are in a very messy, uncomfortable stage of fully experiencing this imbalance, both on our own and as a collective? So many possibilities for a new way forward 🌱 …

      Warmly, KC

      Read More
      • Craig K

        KC , thanks for your response. Sounds like an interesting book

        • KC

          Thanks Craig, How I wish there was a simple, easy way through this messy imbalance! So good we all just have to do a simple, wee bit. Best for a good day, and weekend! Warmly, KC

    • Holly in Ohio
      I think what may be out of balance is fear. As fear grows, it becomes harder for people to trust others, in turn making it harder to collaborate on projects (even maintaining a democracy, which is a big collaboration). How to dismantle the fear and distrust is a big question for me these days. It will probably take many different efforts to make the situation better, including resolving some of the major issues facing our world today, such as the pandemic, hunger, and displacement. It is hard ...

      I think what may be out of balance is fear. As fear grows, it becomes harder for people to trust others, in turn making it harder to collaborate on projects (even maintaining a democracy, which is a big collaboration). How to dismantle the fear and distrust is a big question for me these days. It will probably take many different efforts to make the situation better, including resolving some of the major issues facing our world today, such as the pandemic, hunger, and displacement. It is hard for people to feel the spirit of generosity and collaboration when they don’t feel secure. The individuals and corporations that are greedy, they are way over on the side of competition, aren’t they? And unfortunately this leads to unscrupulousness. This needs to be addressed to bring things into balance, too. And then I think we need to reach out to others unlike us or with different views, to really listen to understand, and to find common ground and projects we can work on together.

      Read More
    • Trish

      Since you asked….we barely know how to communicate with one another & are encouraged to be in competition. This fosters disconnect & alienation when what we need is connection & to feel like we are in this together. I vote for collaboration every time!!

      • Ed Schulte
        I’ll join your “vote for collaboration”. Yes “competition can bring amazing results” as recent events in the USA bear truth to that fact. BUT Thankfully! the results of competitiveness are always short lived because they are driven by egoism “better that others” and all too often, at the cost of other ” ….”"Power over others is weakness disguised by strength”. TOLLE reminds us. The powerful key to any successful OUTER collaboration is, first and formost, doing ones own...

        I’ll join your “vote for collaboration”. Yes “competition can bring amazing results” as recent events in the USA bear truth to that fact. BUT Thankfully! the results of competitiveness are always short lived because they are driven by egoism “better that others” and all too often, at the cost of other ” ….””Power over others is weakness disguised by strength”. TOLLE reminds us.

        The powerful key to any successful OUTER collaboration is, first and formost, doing ones own INNER collaboration ( introspection ) ….IOW enter into ones own Spirit-Soul- Self and “cleaning house” there in ones own present-day personality. Then true creativeness / clear intuition / can rise to the collective’s requirements.

        The I CHING makes this point so well……”One discovers a key to Tranquility by first gaining insight into his own nature, then turning that vision outward.
        By resolving inner conflicts and being at peace with himself, he learns to gain insight into others. In effect, he enters another, sees with the other’s eyes, listens with the other’s ears, feels with the other’s heart. He then returns to his own centre, with new perspective and understanding.

        Read More
  • Ed Schulte
    When the collaboration is vibrating within True Love / Divine Love ( not a‘time and place’ Love where there is never two people who understand love in exactly the same way ), because True Love radiates the Christ Logos and therefore ALL within it oscillate in the same way. That is "when" true "collaboration" is HOME for human beings and it is occurring everywhere in the Universe, (the "When" is the universal Now) , but minds dwelling in separation from HOME can't see/feel/heart it .......

    When the collaboration is vibrating within True Love / Divine Love ( not a‘time and place’ Love where there is never two people who understand love in exactly the same way ), because True Love radiates the Christ Logos and therefore ALL within it oscillate in the same way.

    That is “when” true “collaboration” is HOME for human beings and it is occurring everywhere in the Universe, (the “When” is the universal Now) , but minds dwelling in separation from HOME can’t see/feel/heart it ….as it has been quoted “only those who have ….( activated Divine Love )…ears to hear can hear” and will be given “more”, more Being-ness to experience.

    Read More
  • 333USA

    In my line of work I am part od a team. Each of us handles a different phase and passes to the next. We are always Doreen on each other. It allies each one of us to make thier own important contribution to the process and creates a sense of collectiveism for us all.

This site is brought to you by A Network for Grateful Living, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are fully tax deductible in the U.S.A.

DONATE https://gratefulness.org/content/uploads/2015/03/GX-Gold-Participant-L.png

© 2000 - 2021, A Network for Grateful Living

Website by Briteweb

We are delighted to announce the release of Kristi Nelson’s book Wake Up Grateful

0

Your Cart