Attention

The great philosopher, Simone Weil, stated that “attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.”

How wonderful it is to be in the presence of someone who does that rarest and most fulfilling task that can be done as a human being! Indeed, attention is one of the Nine Emotional Needs, according to The Human Givens Institute. The Human Givens Institute goes so far as to say that it is a “form of nutrition.” Deeply attending to someone else’s needs is fulfilling, and especially so when all parties notice and respect that they will get their turn to attend and be attended to.

When it goes south is when people do anything to get that need met. Many, if not most, of us have been on the other end of people needing to have all of the attention. Many, if not most, of us have also felt the need to get more attention.

When was the last time you were genuinely fulfilled? I would guess that it didn’t involve a time you were engaged in “self-care.” We find ourselves most fulfilled by fulfilling others.