Andy Stanley – empty my cup

My job is not to fill other people’s cups, it is to empty mine.

It will never be enough to fill theirs, but it allows all the good stuff to get put back into yours.

At last week’s LeaderCast, Andy Stanley shared an interesting analogy that I thought was really important for us to understand.

My paraphrase for what he said: My job is not to fill other people’s cups, it is to empty mine. It will never be enough to fill theirs, but it allows all the good stuff to get put back into yours.

He was speaking specifically about leadership, but I think it might just be true for all relationships.

Our job is fill our cup with positive thoughts, emotions, feelings and activities.

Then pour those out on others.

Not because we are filling their cup, but because we want to add to the happiness of those we care about.

Our happiness does not depend on others around us, it depends on the level to which we do our best to serve and love them.

We must do our best out of service and love, that is the only part we control.

Is there a relationship in your life where the other person’s happiness (or lack thereof) control’s too much of yours?

Make it a great day.

Jake ​