Giving

Learning How to Thrive: Giving, with Arianna Huffington, Co-founder, The Huffington Post and Author, Thrive

Go-giving

So our culture celebrates go-getters. You know, occasionally around Thanksgiving and Christmas we also celebrate givers, but it would be really great if we can celebrate go-givers as much and as intensely as we celebrate go-getters.

What would help us with that is that, really, we are wired for giving, you know. Our genes are wired for giving. And so when we remember that it makes it much easier to recognize that when we give we are giving ourselves also a shortcut to happiness, and we are without question improving our health. You know, it’s just amazing to look at all the science that shows that all the inflammatory markers that are the precursors of disease go down when we’re giving to others.

Networking

Yes, we think that takers are the ones who always finish first and givers finish last, like “Nice guys finish last.” But it’s not actually true because, ultimately, networking at its best is recognizing what the other person needs and helping them get it. And when we come from that place it’s just amazing how much comes back to us, instead of constantly seeing the world from the point of view of what’s in it for me.

Mindful Leadership

At the Huffington Post it’s very important for us for everyone to know that they’re valued individually and that their well-being is really important to us. And we try to do that by encouraging people to participate in the free yoga, meditation and breathing classes we offer, and also by having an email policy that makes it clear that when you leave the office you are not expected to be on email. And if there’s something urgent that happens we will call you. But otherwise this is your time to live your life, to recharge and to return to the office renewed.