While the Cambridge Dictionary mainly defines "rewarding" as either something with a very positive financial outcome or as "giving a reward, especially by making you feel satisfied that you have done something important or useful, or done something well", the Merriam-Webster Dictionary offers two possible definitions that are both more generic and yet more interesting than the previous one:
- yielding or likely to yield a reward
- serving as a reward
Merriam-Webster assumes that something can be rewarding not only because of an immediate outcome but also because it could produce or contribute to the necessary circumstances for something pleasant in the long-term.
[Very similar to a gratitude journal,
writing daily a list of 3-5 things that have been rewarding
can be life-changing over time]
Taking care of ourselves and countless other options can be rewarding, without money being involved.
A couple of examples?
Nourishing our relationships can be rewarding. Improving our skills. Reading something surprising. Cooking a tasty meal. Working out regularly and feeling good in our skin. Being nice to others. Playing with a puppy...
The reward is usually the happiness we experience while dedicating our time, our focus, and our resources to what's meaningful to us.
Today's question is a tiny reminder about it and an invitation to be grateful for all the chances we get on a daily basis to experience and create something rewarding for ourselves and others.
Coaching question of the day:
"What has been rewarding today?" Tags: Coaching question, Self-coaching, Self-awareness, Self-reflection, Thankfulness, Mindfulness, Gratitude, Definition of rewarding, Dealing with rewards
What to read next:
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