--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The very first step toward giving to…" description: "\"The very first step toward giving to others is grateful recognition of our own assets.\" — Nancy Brinker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/nancy-brinker-74683_appreciation_the-very-first-step-toward-giving-to-oth_3027462.png" --- # The very first step toward giving to others is grateful… ![“The very first step toward giving to others is grateful recognition of our own assets.” quote by Nancy Brinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/nancy-brinker-74683_appreciation_the-very-first-step-toward-giving-to-oth_3027462.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/nancy-brinker-74683_appreciation_the-very-first-step-toward-giving-to-oth_3027462.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/nancy-brinker-74683_appreciation_the-very-first-step-toward-giving-to-oth_3027462.png) > “The very first step toward giving to others is grateful recognition of our own assets.” [Nancy Brinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-brinker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Before helping others, one must first recognize and appreciate one's own strengths and blessings. **In simple terms:** Recognize your own assets before giving to others. Key Takeaway Acknowledge self‑worth before generosity. Themes gratitude generosity self‑awareness humility Mood reflective encouraging Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - mentorship - team leadership Key Concepts psychology ethics social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What strengths can you share today? - How does gratitude shape your giving? A Different Perspective Could lead to self‑centeredness if misapplied. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appreciation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciation/) [Assets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assets/) [First step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-step/) [First steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-steps/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-grateful-2541202/) [Giving to others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-to-others/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Grateful Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful-recognition-4930190/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) [Step Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step-giving-2643653/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) ## Related quotes > [Step into giving. Purpose is about cultivating something within YOU and then GIVING it away to other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mastin-kipp/step-into-giving-purpose-is-about-cultivating-something-within-you/) [Mastin Kipp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mastin-kipp/) > [To let God make us, instead of painfully trying to make ourselves; to follow the path that his love shows us, instead of through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-orne-jewett/to-let-god-make-us-instead-of-painfully-trying-to-make-ourselves-to/) [Sarah Orne Jewett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-orne-jewett/) > [Giving to others selflesly and anonymously, radiating light throughout the world and illuminating your own darkness, your virtue becomes a sanctuary for yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/giving-to-others-selflesly-and-anonymously-radiating-light-throughout/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“The greatest joy in life comes from giving of yourself for the betterment of others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/the-greatest-joy-in-life-comes-from-giving-of-yourself-for-the/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [Giving to others is the greatest form of sacrificial love. We're not defined by labels, but redefined by what we do for others in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/giving-to-others-is-the-greatest-form-of-sacrificial-love-we-re-not/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [In Benedictine spirituality, work is what we do to continue what God wanted done…God goes on creating through us. Consequently a life spent serving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/in-benedictine-spirituality-work-is-what-we-do-to-continue-what-god/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [“Giving to others is most precious when it is done quietly and selflessly. Righteous indignation is like candy when you’re starving. It feels good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gottlieb/giving-to-others-is-most-precious-when-it-is-done-quietly-and/) [Daniel Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gottlieb/) > [Charity isn't about pity, it is about love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/charity-isn-t-about-pity-it-is-about-love/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Monetary success is not success. Career success is not success. Life, someone that loves you, giving to others, doing something that makes you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-avery/monetary-success-is-not-success-career-success-is-not-success-life/) [James Avery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-avery/) > [FORGIVING is FOR GIVING to others and if it is meant FOR GETTING to ourselves then should it not be termed as FORGETTING ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/forgiving-is-for-giving-to-others-and-if-it-is-meant-for-getting-to/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [One of the fundamental demonstrations of our natural instinct to Bond with each other is a will to give. Rather than domination, our most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-mctaggart/one-of-the-fundamental-demonstrations-of-our-natural-instinct-to-bond/) [Lynne McTaggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-mctaggart/) > [“It’s been said that love is all there is; that a lack of love causes people to do evil things. I can buy that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novelist-j-conrad-guest/it-s-been-said-that-love-is-all-there-is-that-a-lack-of-love-causes/) [novelist J. Conrad Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novelist-j-conrad-guest/) > [Do all the good you can, by all the means you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [What are you doing for others?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/what-are-you-doing-for-others/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Giving to other people makes me feel alive. Not my car or my house. Not what I look like in the mirror. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/giving-to-other-people-makes-me-feel-alive-not-my-car-or-my-house-not/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) ## More by Nancy Brinker > [People who come to work don't show up for the coffee and donuts. They come to change the world. People will work hard for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-brinker/people-who-come-to-work-don-t-show-up-for-the-coffee-and-donuts-they/) [Nancy Brinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-brinker/) > [“That day was an education for me. I'll never forget it. Standing in teh doorway, watching the reaction of the men and women gathered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-brinker/that-day-was-an-education-for-me-i-ll-never-forget-it-standing-in-teh/) [Nancy Brinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-brinker/) [Explore all 3 Nancy Brinker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-brinker/) ## More Appreciation quotes > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Time can but make her beauty over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/time-can-but-make-her-beauty-over-again/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) [Daniel K Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-k-judd/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [A very small percentage of the people in this world will actually experience and live today. So many people will be stuck on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/a-very-small-percentage-of-the-people-in-this-world-will-actually/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Stop chasing the things you want and embrace all that you already have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-chasing-the-things-you-want-and-embrace-all-that-you-already-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Appreciation is the purest vibration that exists on the planet today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/appreciation-is-the-purest-vibration-that-exists-on-the-planet-today/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“My thank-yous always come out rather labored. I often don't give them at all. People do what they're supposed to do and then wait…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/my-thank-yous-always-come-out-rather-labored-i-often-don-t-give-them/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [“Like gratitude, authentic appreciation in the workplace is a realisation that can be nurtured and accessed with daily mindful practice. By and large, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dines/like-gratitude-authentic-appreciation-in-the-workplace-is-a/) [Christopher Dines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dines/) > [Think of your mind, your emotions, and your spirit as the ultimate garden. The way to ensure a bountiful, nourishing harvest is to plant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/think-of-your-mind-your-emotions-and-your-spirit-as-the-ultimate/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Recognize and appreciate little things, and enjoy what Life has to offer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-nikko-caharian-iii/recognize-and-appreciate-little-things-and-enjoy-what-life-has-to/) [Cesar Nikko Caharian III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-nikko-caharian-iii/) > [Men, when it comes to women, value diamonds and put no stock into copper. Diamonds are rare. You can find copper anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/men-when-it-comes-to-women-value-diamonds-and-put-no-stock-into/) [Enhance Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enhance-dreams/) > [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Where one has been saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/be-very-slow-to-believe-that-you-are-wiser-than-all-others-it-is-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) [Browse all 2,528 Appreciation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The very first step toward giving to others is grateful recognition of our own assets.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nancy Brinker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-brinker/the-very-first-step-toward-giving-to-others-is-grateful-recognition/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appreciation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-brinker/the-very-first-step-toward-giving-to-others-is-grateful-recognition/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/nancy-brinker-74683_appreciation_the-very-first-step-toward-giving-to-oth_3027462.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/nancy-brinker-74683_appreciation_the-very-first-step-toward-giving-to-oth_3027462.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/nancy-brinker-74683_appreciation_the-very-first-step-toward-giving-to-oth_3027462.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The very first step toward giving to others is grateful recognition of our own assets.” — Nancy Brinker", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nancy Brinker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-brinker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The very first step toward giving...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-brinker/the-very-first-step-toward-giving-to-others-is-grateful-recognition/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-brinker/the-very-first-step-toward-giving-to-others-is-grateful-recognition/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```