5 Ways Your Funeral Business Finds Happiness in Serving Families
August 6th, 2012“It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.”
~Sarah Bernhardt
I believe – and you may as well – that helping and supporting others is a necessary part of your funeral business.”
Sarah Bernhardt, who was considered to be “the most famous actress the world has ever known” in the 1870’s once said “It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.”
And I think every funeral business has the innate ability to do just that when we serve our families, while expecting nothing in return. A lot of funeral professional’s biggest weakness is going above and beyond for their families, and forgetting about the “business” aspect of the funeral service from time to time.
But you know what? I think that’s just fine. Being successful in business pays the bills, but “spending oneself” leads to happiness greater than any amount of money.
I recently read an article by Nipun Mehta, who started the organization Service Space.
In the article, Nipun suggests several reasons why we serve:
1. We serve to discover abundance
When we serve, we stop thinking about ourselves, and what’s in it for us. We find happiness in other’s happiness. Our mindset shifts from “consumption to contribution.” We get an eye for meeting people, and knowing what our funeral business can offer them. You are no longer operating from a space of scarcity – your cup fills and overflows.
2. Serve to express gratitude.
Mother Teresa once said “we can do no great things- only small things with great love.” It’s not just what we do that matters, but the motivations behind our actions that really count.
3. Serve to transform yourself.
When your funeral business does great things for people, you stop being self-centered, and become “others-centered.” And, soon you’ll feel that when you give, you actually receive. It’s a transformation that takes some their whole lives to figure out. But, being in the industry of serving families, we learn this sooner than most.
4. Serve to honor our profound interconnection.
Over time, all of those small acts, those small moments, lead to a different state of being—a state in which service becomes increasingly effortless. And when we actually start to use our gifts as tools to facilitate giving, we deepen our understanding of relationships with others.
5. Serve to align with a natural unfolding.
When we increasingly choose to remain in that space of service, we start to see new things. The needs of the current situation become clearer, we become instruments of a greater order and consequently our actions become more effortless. What each of us can do, on a personal level, is make such small offerings of service that ultimately create the field for deeper change. The revolution starts with you and me.
The more your funeral business serves, the greater chance you have at developing a positive lifestyle – for yourself and others around you. Turns out Sarah Bernhardt got it right, all those years ago.
How have you gone above and beyond for your families? How did it make you feel? Share your thoughts!
Related articles
- A Funeral Director’s “To-Don’t” List (funeralone.com)
- The Ultimate Guide to Serving Baby Boomers (funeralone.com)
- How to Attract the Families of Today with Your Funeral Website (funeralone.com)
- VIDEO: Why The Funeral Profession Isn’t Changing (And How to Overcome It) (connectingdirectors.com)
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