I am thankful for Gabor Maté. He generously shares his history and knowledge with us. As a teacher-turned-doctor, we can learn a lot from his examples and studies. In addition, his childhood was riddled with traumas and upheavals that molded and shaped the man he is today. Gabor’s generosity highlights true, authentic honesty. Insights instruct us informatively to investigate interests inquisitively, introducing ideas for improvement.
Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last.
-Samuel Johnson
Dr. Maté is very generous and openminded with his areas of exploration. He researches addictions, attentions, and traumas in detail; he looks for the best treatment options that can help the most people in the most effective ways. Gabor has explored and supported some interesting modalities such as a legal safe site supervising drug injections as well as ayahuasca ceremonies to help heal addicts. By generously pushing for cutting-edge and revolutionary approaches, more change may be possible. After all, more of the same is only going to prolong the same problems that seem to simmer and persist perpetually.
"The difference between passion and addiction is that between a divine spark and a flame that incinerates. Passion is divine fire: it enlivens and makes holy; it gives light and yields inspiration. Passion is generous because it's not ego-driven; addiction is self-centered. Passion gives and enriches; addiction is a thief. Passion is a source of truth and enlightenment; addictive behaviors lead you into darkness. You're more alive when you are passionate, and you triumph whether or not you attain your goal. But an addiction requires a specific outcome that feeds the ego; without that outcome, the ego feels empty and deprived."
-Gabor Maté
Helping others can help yourself. It is an indirect fringe benefit to appreciate in hindsight. I read something from Tolstoy recently that talked about humans being able to always serve their divine purpose, regardless of whether they are healthy or sick. If you choose to help others, being generous with your time and energy, then you can indirectly learn lessons to apply to your own life and lane along the way. Simply by being there more for friends and even strangers, you can obtain nuggets of wisdom to apply to your daily activities. It also helps you be of further benefit by increasing your future potential with additional generosity if you choose to share your new insights with people as needed. Showing up and generously doing your best for you and others can feel very powerful.
It is a powerful practice to be generous when you are the one feeling in need.
-Allan Lokos
"You think it's easier to help the clients than it is to help yourself, but over time you gradually benefit in an indirect way. By helping other people, you spot the mistakes that they keep making and the traps that they fall into and you start to kind of realize that you're probably doing the same thing. They function, to some extent, as a mirror for your own problems over time."
-Donald J. Robertson
How generous are you with your life? Can you share your lessons more freely with others in order to help everyone benefit and improve more? Hoarding your information and belongings will not help many over the long run. Can you build atop the nice generosity of others to pay more forward? We can all be happier if we all begin to share more.
Happiness is not made by what we own. It is what we share.
-Jonathan Sacks
Dr. Gabor Maté generously shares his life with all of us, serving up lessons that can lead us towards an ideal approach to adversities. Generosity can appear contentious at times because the bigger picture may not always be apparent to us immediately. Regardless, we can accept help, continuing to do our best; generously trust in the unfolding process.
Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.