Inspire Me!

If you had a million dollars to give away, who would you give it to?

What organizations will get my money? The question is best answered with another question: What organization or cause inspires me? If I have money, not imaginary extra money to give away, I can be inspired to part with it. There are other motivators but inspiration is the most effective.

Guilt

Guilt is sometimes an inducement to give. Guilt has been used in so many facets of life from parenting to work to religion that self-defensive mechanisms to this are much more developed in everyone. Sure, I can occasionally be “guilted” into parting with my money but it is not a solid longterm strategy. Guilt only leads me to respond grudgingly; doing anything “grudgingly” leads to developing ways to avoid or ignore that feeling in the future.

Over a longer period, I begin to develop calluses from a guilt-laden approach; eventually I become hardened to the guilt-appeal. Once the guilt card is played, it is going to be difficult to play it effectively again. I just get more weary with more guilt; there are enough reasons already to be weary without adding some cause or organization.

Anger

Anger is a motivator for giving also. It gets our blood roiling and offers an immediate, if temporary, motivation to act. Anger is not designed t last in the human psyche; it is a self-protective emotion usually evoked when boundaries are crossed and survival is threatened. My body and mind are saying loudly I must act. Anger dissipates quickly; it is exhausting to maintain. I begin to burnout from the intensity that anger elicits.

Anger is a marginally effective reason to give. Exhausting in the short term and unsustainable in the longterm, I find anger a poor motivator. Agitate me and I will likely respond to an appeal. However, anger is more difficult to engender about the same issue each successive time. The fire of anger also drains my energy and eventually burns me out. At that point, I can no longer be motivated in that way for a specific cause.

Inspiration

Inspiration is a strong short-term and long-term motivator for engaging a cause or organization. Inspiration gives energy, not drains it. Tell me a story of impactful action, of how my engagement will change lives, and you have my support. Inspiration does not burn me out; inspiration invigorates me. It is life-giving. Share with me how my response spreads love and hope and goodness and I will sign up now. And I will continue to be inspired with more stories. Heck, I have.

My wife has an extraordinary gift for engaging others in causes in which she believes. She tells stories of impact and possibility, hope given and love shared. When invited to respond to such stories in positive ways like giving money or time or effort, I feel good, not exhausted or burned-out.

I do not need to wait for extra money to respond to a good cause; I will respond now with what I have. Many others will, too. With positive, engaging motivation, I will be more likely to support now and in the future what has inspired me. I might respond to anger or guilt but only immediately and for the short-term. If I get a pile of extra money as the prompt implies, I am likely to continue supporting causes and issues that already inspire and uplift me.

Tell me a good story.