“ATTENTION IS THE RAREST AND PUREST FORM OF GENEROSITY,” said Weil. ATTENTION is the concentration of the mind on a single object, thought, or conversation. We can be stuck in rigid perspectives, oblivious to alternative views. We must create an atmosphere of trust and reciprocity. We have to replenish others. To do so we have to give ATTENTION. Empathy is the one human capacity that allows us to link minds and hearts across cultures and generations to transform our lives. Empathy can be developed, practiced and lived. Empathy or ATTENTION is an essential ingredient for good leaders, success and excellent performance. Self-absorption kills empathy, it is all about self-promotion, personal branding, and self-interest at the exclusion of others’ feelings, needs, and concerns. A total lack of ATTENTION. If we do not give ATTENTION to others’ feelings, worries, or concerns we all become basically islands. This comes down to emotional intelligence—the ability to identify an emotion in yourself or others. Giving ATTENTION to others is a start to form a union. Discoveries in science tell us that we are hard-wired almost from birth to be empathetic, to be ATTENTIVE. It has been shown that two-year olds try to make things better. They don’t just feel your pain; they also try to ease it. Language further advances their empathetic capabilities. It all starts with tuning in to another human being by being ATTENTIVE.

In organizations, we must help all members find their place and help them to progress and reach fulfillment. This can be achieved by all of us giving ATTENTION AS A GIFT. We must give our time, minds and above all our ATTENTION to help others to proceed on the proper path. The next time you see someone, ask “how are you?” and mean it.  If we give ATTENTION AS A GIFT, we will receive much more in return.

Categories: Book Summary Philosophical Perspective

ron winnegrad

Ron Winnegrad has been a Perfumer and teacher for 46 years. As a perfumer, Ron has been able to express the world he sees through a rainbow of olfactive and emotive visions. As a teacher, Ron has helped others to see fragrance through his own multi sensorial lens.