Be a Fountain, Not a Drain

Lead Photo credit: Frank Albrecht via Unsplash

Last month my teenage son and I watched “The Forge,” an inspiring movie that illustrates the profound impact of Godly mentors in the lives of young men. One quote that stuck with both of us weeks later is, “Be a fountain, not a drain.”

As we reflect this month on working together to create generative solutions, I am touched by how this quote succinctly captures the heart of what generativity means in my life.

To me the opposite of being generative is consuming. Merriam-Webster.com defines “consume“ as to do away with completely or destroy, to spend wastefully or squander, or to use up.

A drain is the perfect metaphor for consuming. I can imagine time, talents, resources, values, and relationships all spiraling down to a central drain where they are lost to us as individuals, families, and communities. Yes, that’s dramatic, but as we (individually and collectively) get sucked into the passivity of entertainment and numbing behaviors, it’s so easy to forget that we were meant to do more than find pleasure and avoid pain.

Generativity offers a very different way of being in the world.

     “Generativity refers to the desire to contribute to the well-being of future generations through nurturing, teaching, and sharing wisdom. This concept goes beyond biological parenting, encompassing various forms of guidance, support, and intellectual contributions to society. Generativity is an essential aspect of personal growth, as it reflects an individual’s ability to transcend self-centered concerns and invest in the development of others.” -Emily Ryan

Some synonyms for the word “generative” include: creative, fertile, fruitful, productive, prolific, vital, quickening, life-giving, and imaginative.

This is being a fountain, not a drain. It involves sharing the nourishing force of our time, talents, resources, values, and relationships with others. We see ourselves as part of something bigger than ourselves and invest in the growth and development of potential and possibility. We leave the world a better place.

Generativity is a powerful choice. It leads us to invest our lives to grow something more instead of spending our lives and leaving them empty. I am so grateful for mentors and examples of people, organizations, and communities that choose to find generative solutions and live daily in generative ways.

When has someone been a fountain in your life?

What is something you can do today to be a fountain in someone else’s life?