A fourth strategy stands in stark contrast to the third. We take some traditions quite seriously and wrap them around our daily living, even though we live in a modern and nontraditional society. Observant Orthodox Jewish and Muslim colleagues find ways to engage their elaborate traditions while also living and working in a contemporary, secular society. The challenge for these remarkable men and women is great, especially in a world that is becoming increasingly suspicious of those who dress differently, practice restricted diets, and choose to allocate time each day to religious devotions.
In somewhat less dramatic fashion, we find similar reliance on specific patterns and mini-rituals in our daily lives—even though we are not dedicated to a specific religious tradition. It might be pausing at the end of the day to step out on our deck to witness (and celebrate) the sunset—or engage in a similar observance when the sun is rising in the early morning. We might, instead, gather our family together every Sunday evening for dinner and sharing happenings from the previous week: “what is the best thing and most surprising thing that happened during the week?” Rather than taking these mini-rituals for granted, we can reflect (with the assistance of our professional coach) on the meaning for us of these repetitive acts. What values are being conveyed and preserved? Has this ritual changes at all over the years—and what do these changes suggest about our perspectives and life values?
The fifth and probably most impactful strategy for many people is to set aside space where the tradition can be fully honored. For example, certain islands in Hawaii are reserved for safeguarding traditional Hawaiian culture. National parks, land trusts and game preserves have boundaries and are protected. Also, theme parks are established to emulate and look after old traditions. All these safeguards can be identified by a single word, which is itself wrapped in tradition: Sanctuary. We need sanctuaries in our lives, both because they can be re-creating and because they are often sources of new learning or the remembrance and enforcement of old learning that has been forgotten or ignored. We see the role of sanctuary being played out in many of the Generativity Three acts that we will identify in this essay. Sanctuaries are temporary systems. They are about the sacred and about that which we wish most to safeguard. Sanctuary is a place of deep caring.
Paying It Forward: The fourth motive is one that will be emphasized throughout this essay and that a professional coach might emphasize with their client. It is a motive that bridges the past and future. We preserve in order to pass forward a heritage, a story or a plot of land. The phrase “paying it forward” is now in vogue, in part because of the movie with the same title. It is a phrase that is directly aligned with this motive. For many years (since 1964), one of the best-known examples of paying it forward is SCORE, the service organization that provides free mentorship, consultation, workshops, and publications to small business entrepreneurs.
As a resource partner with the United States Small Business Administration, SCORE tends to attract volunteers with extensive experience in running or consulting with businesses. Retired SCORE mentors have served more than 8.5 million clients. What has motivated more than 11,000 volunteers to assist SCORE clients? There is considerable evidence from SCORE volunteers that paying forward can play a central role as a principal motivation. SCORE volunteers have often been successful in their own career and have frequently been guided, inspired, and assisted by other people along the way; they now want to show their gratitude in a tangible manner by providing the same kind of support to others who are just starting their own career or business.
