This article is for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of personal value in social and professional contexts—whether you’re a student aiming to expand your skills, a professional seeking growth, or an individual desiring stronger relationships and community impact. By breaking down the concept of ‘being useful or ornamental,’ readers can identify and cultivate ways to enrich their interactions and contributions, ensuring a more fulfilling and balanced life. For those who sometimes feel overlooked or undervalued, this guide offers practical and actionable insights into standing out and gaining recognition through authentic contribution. It helps build awareness of where your strengths lie and provides steps to broaden your repertoire of personal value. The concept that “one who gives the most could get the most” emphasizes that varied and thoughtful contributions can lead to deeper, more rewarding connections and opportunities in all aspects of life.
Introduction
In any society, individuals who expect support or benefits must offer value in return. This idea can be summarized by the maxim: “Be useful or ornamental.” It implies that one must either contribute in practical ways or enrich the environment and relationships through personal attributes. An example from Disney’s Encanto illustrates this beautifully. Luisa, with her superhuman strength, embodies the concept of being ‘useful’—she helps lift heavy burdens, repairs structures, and is the community’s pillar of support. Isabella, on the other hand, represents the ‘ornamental’ aspect, as her ability to create beautiful flowers and greenery adds vibrancy and pride to her family and community. Each sister’s powers showcase different, yet essential, ways to contribute value, emphasizing the importance of both types of roles.
This concept is not new; it aligns with historical and cultural teachings about community and balance. Many ancient philosophies stress that society thrives when individuals play roles that support the collective, whether through practical acts or uplifting presence.
Understanding and embracing these contributions is vital for personal and communal success. Recognizing the various ways to be valuable helps individuals tap into their strengths, build meaningful relationships, and foster environments that are both functional and harmonious. It allows for a sense of purpose and belonging, making life more fulfilling for oneself and beneficial for others.
Understanding ‘Usefulness’
Definition: In societal terms, ‘usefulness’ refers to the direct and impactful contributions one makes that benefit others and strengthen the community. This encompasses tangible actions as well as intangible forms of support that facilitate growth, well-being, or problem-solving. A person deemed ‘useful’ is recognized for their active role in improving the lives of those around them.
Types of ‘Useful’ Contributions:
Practical Contributions:
- Examples: Offering time, skills, physical effort, or presence to support communal or organizational efforts. This could range from volunteering at local events, managing logistics for a charity drive, or serving as a leader in group initiatives.
- Subtypes:
- Leadership: Guiding a team or group toward a common goal, making key decisions, and motivating others. For instance, a project manager who orchestrates a complex project and ensures its successful delivery exemplifies practical leadership.
- Teamwork: Participating actively in collaborative tasks, ensuring group objectives are met efficiently. For example, a team member who assists with research and development in a start-up contributes significantly through their combined efforts.
- Logistical Support: Handling the behind-the-scenes tasks that keep operations running smoothly, like organizing a fundraiser, coordinating resources for disaster relief, or helping arrange public events.
- Benefits: Engaging in practical contributions builds a reputation for reliability, fosters career growth through experience and networking, and strengthens social bonds within a community.
- Actionable Tips: Start by volunteering in local community projects, offer to help with tasks at work or in social circles, and develop a strong work ethic through consistent, dependable actions. Take initiative by organizing small events or contributing skills to group efforts.
Emotional Contributions:
- Examples: Providing empathy, being a sounding board for friends or colleagues, and offering emotional support during tough times. A person who checks in on a sick friend, comforts someone going through a loss, or is consistently available for meaningful conversations offers immense emotional value.
- Subtypes:
- Active Listening: Truly engaging with what others have to say, making them feel heard and validated. For example, a colleague who attentively listens to a stressed teammate and helps them find solutions is highly valued.
- Emotional Presence: Being present during important life moments, such as celebrations or crises, showing that one values and supports others’ experiences.
- Benefits: These contributions foster trust, deepen relationships, and create a supportive atmosphere that enhances collective well-being.
- Actionable Tips: Practice active listening by minimizing distractions and showing genuine interest during conversations. Offer kind words and empathetic gestures, and be present during important moments in friends’ and family members’ lives. Build emotional intelligence by reflecting on your reactions and seeking to understand others’ perspectives.
Knowledge-Based Contributions:
- Examples: Sharing expertise through teaching, mentoring, or guiding others with valuable information. This could involve hosting workshops, providing training sessions, or sharing insights through blogs or public speaking.
- Subtypes:
- Teaching: Sharing complex ideas in an understandable way, such as a professor who introduces students to groundbreaking theories or a community member who teaches computer literacy at a local center.
- Mentoring: Guiding someone’s personal or professional development, like an experienced engineer who mentors junior colleagues and helps them navigate their career paths.
- Consulting: Offering specialized advice or insights to solve problems or improve outcomes, such as a financial expert who helps a small business manage its budget more effectively.
- Benefits: Contributing knowledge positions an individual as a resource within their field or community, builds respect, and creates opportunities for leadership roles.
- Actionable Tips: Develop expertise by taking relevant courses, reading extensively, and practicing skills. Share your knowledge through workshops, informal talks, or mentoring programs. Join professional networks and contribute through articles or presentations.
Problem Solving:
- Examples: Innovating solutions to challenges, whether in professional settings or everyday life. This includes brainstorming new product ideas at work, stepping in to de-escalate conflicts, or finding resourceful ways to address community needs.
- Subtypes:
- Crisis Management: Handling emergencies effectively, such as coordinating an emergency response during a natural disaster or troubleshooting a sudden project failure at work.
- Strategic Planning: Proposing plans that solve current issues and anticipate future challenges, like creating a sustainable plan to reduce waste in a neighborhood.
- Benefits: Problem-solving skills earn recognition as a proactive and capable thinker who can be relied upon during crises. It establishes one’s value as someone who drives progress and positive change.
- Actionable Tips: Practice critical thinking through puzzles, strategy games, and debates. Take initiative in offering solutions when issues arise at work or in community groups. Engage in brainstorming sessions to develop creative thinking and volunteer for roles that demand innovative approaches.
By embodying and enhancing these types of ‘usefulness,’ individuals can play vital roles that benefit themselves and their wider community.
Understanding ‘Ornamental’ Value
Definition: Being ‘ornamental’ refers to adding value to society by enriching the atmosphere, relationships, or collective identity through intangible qualities. While it may not always involve direct actions or practical solutions, being ornamental contributes to the well-being and spirit of those around you, creating an uplifting and fulfilling environment.
Types of ‘Ornamental’ Contributions:
Being Easy to Be Around:
- Examples: Maintaining a warm, approachable, and positive demeanor that draws people in and makes social situations enjoyable. A person who knows how to share a laugh, listen without judgment, and bring lightness to interactions is highly valued for these qualities.
- Benefits: This helps foster a positive social atmosphere, strengthens bonds, and encourages open communication.
- Actionable Tips: Improve interpersonal skills through active listening and maintaining an open body language. Practice humor by sharing light stories or finding the funny side of daily events. Stay mindful to ensure you are present in conversations and adapt your energy to match the situation.
Being Aesthetically Pleasing:
- Examples: Taking care of one’s appearance and presenting oneself with poise and elegance. This could mean dressing tastefully for occasions, maintaining good hygiene, and demonstrating an eye for style. Such efforts reflect respect for oneself and others.
- Benefits: This can elevate the morale of social or professional groups, create positive impressions, and inspire others to maintain their own standards.
- Actionable Tips: Prioritize self-care routines that include skincare, grooming, and personal hygiene. Develop a personal style that aligns with your personality and showcases confidence. Practice good posture and graceful movements to enhance your overall presence.
Being a Point of Pride:
- Examples: Contributing to the reputation of a group, whether it’s a family, workplace, or community. This could be through achievements like excelling in sports, arts, or academics, which reflect well on those associated with you.
- Benefits: Adds to the collective identity and boosts morale. It can strengthen social bonds and create a sense of unity.
- Actionable Tips: Engage in activities or pursuits that showcase your skills and represent the values of your community. Volunteer for leadership roles, participate in public-facing events, or contribute to projects that highlight shared goals and achievements.
Making Struggles Worth Going Through:
- Examples: Acting as a beacon of inspiration, motivating others to persist through challenges by sharing your journey and accomplishments. This could be through storytelling, public speaking, or simply leading by example.
- Benefits: Provides hope and encouragement to others during difficult times, fostering resilience and shared determination.
- Actionable Tips: Share your personal stories and struggles to show that challenges can be overcome. Support the ambitions of friends and colleagues by offering encouragement and constructive feedback. Embody resilience in your actions, showing that setbacks can be stepping stones to growth.
By understanding and practicing these types of ornamental contributions, individuals can positively influence their environment and make meaningful connections that enrich the social fabric.
Attributes That Can Be Both ‘Useful’ and ‘Ornamental’
Examples:
- Kindness: Being kind can make someone a reliable supporter (useful) and create a positive and welcoming presence (ornamental).
- Thoughtfulness: Thoughtfulness in remembering important dates, offering help before it’s asked, or paying attention to others’ preferences contributes to practical support (useful) and also makes social interactions more meaningful and pleasant (ornamental).
- Caring: Showing genuine care, such as checking in on someone’s well-being or offering assistance, is both an actionable form of help (useful) and a warm, enriching element that enhances emotional bonds (ornamental).
Discussion: Many attributes naturally fall into both categories, contributing to relationships and societal interactions in multifaceted ways. For instance, being kind can make someone an indispensable part of a friend group or a workplace, showing that they are reliable and empathetic. Meanwhile, the same kindness helps create an inviting atmosphere that others appreciate. Such overlapping traits can amplify an individual’s value to their community and create stronger social and professional ties.
Actionable Tips:
- Balance Development: Cultivate traits that can be applied flexibly. For example, strive to be supportive by offering practical help (useful) and remain pleasant and engaging to interact with (ornamental).
- Stay Attentive: Develop habits of checking in on others regularly, noticing details that matter to them, and being proactive in offering support or compliments.
- Be Consistent: Regularly practice showing up for others and engaging in conversations that make people feel valued. This not only builds your reputation as reliable but also makes you someone people want to be around.
- Invest in Self-Reflection: Regularly assess how you can improve in these overlapping areas, such as showing thoughtfulness by bringing a gift to a gathering (ornamental) while also offering your assistance (useful).
By nurturing these dual-purpose attributes, individuals can maximize their positive impact and become valued members of their communities.
The Strategy of Being Multi-Dimensional
Explanation: Being multi-dimensional means contributing to society in more than one way, showcasing a balance between being ‘useful’ and ‘ornamental.’ This strategy boosts personal and professional relationships, making you a well-rounded individual who can adapt to different situations and fulfill various needs within a group or community.
Concept: “One who gives the most could get the most.” This principle highlights that those who offer the most value—through diverse skills and qualities—tend to receive the most recognition, support, and opportunities in return. By excelling in both practical and ornamental ways, individuals enrich their relationships and social circles, which can lead to greater fulfillment and success.
Adaptability: Embracing versatility allows individuals to seamlessly switch between being useful and ornamental depending on the context. For example, in professional settings, one can lead a project (practical usefulness) while also creating a harmonious work environment through positive interactions (ornamental value). In social settings, being able to solve problems while also being an uplifting presence makes one an indispensable friend or family member.
Modern Examples:
- Integrating Technology: A person who is tech-savvy can use their digital skills to assist others with tasks (useful) and create engaging, visually appealing presentations or social media content that adds flair to group projects (ornamental).
- Social Influence: Someone who shares motivational stories online (ornamental) while also giving practical tips and resources (useful) enhances their role as both a relatable and a knowledgeable figure.
Actionable Tips:
- Identify Complementary Skills: Determine how certain skills can enhance each other. For instance, effective communication can support your problem-solving abilities (useful) and also make you more enjoyable to interact with (ornamental).
- Leverage Personal Strengths: If you are empathetic, use that to offer emotional support (useful) while creating a welcoming space that others enjoy being part of (ornamental).
- Continuous Learning: Develop new skills that cater to both categories, such as storytelling to inspire (ornamental) and project management to lead effectively (useful).
- Balance Your Contributions: Aim for a mix of tangible efforts and intangible qualities in various settings. For example, help organize community events (useful) and participate by adding cheer and camaraderie (ornamental).
By practicing a multi-dimensional approach, individuals can significantly amplify their value, nurturing deeper connections and securing wider recognition and support in personal and professional domains.
Actionable Plans to Develop ‘Ways to Contribute’
Self-Assessment:
- Identify Strengths and Natural Inclinations: Start by evaluating your current strengths, interests, and personality traits. Reflect on what you enjoy doing and where you naturally excel. For instance, if you’re empathetic, you might be inclined towards emotional support. If you’re detail-oriented, practical problem-solving could be a strong point.
- Assessment Exercise: List activities you currently engage in that contribute value. Identify whether these fall into the ‘useful’ or ‘ornamental’ category.
Beginner Steps:
- Choose Initial Focus: Select one way to develop from each category:
- Useful Contribution: Commit to learning a practical skill like project management or time management.
- Ornamental Contribution: Focus on enhancing emotional presence by practicing active listening or improving your approachability.
- Set Clear Goals: Define what successful development looks like, such as leading a small group project (useful) or becoming the person others turn to for lighthearted conversation (ornamental).
Enhancement Plan:
- Basic Level:
- Online Resources: Use tutorials, online courses, or free workshops to gain foundational knowledge. For example, learn the basics of event planning or techniques for active listening.
- Mentorship: Find a mentor who exemplifies these contributions, whether it’s a colleague known for problem-solving or a friend who brings joy to gatherings.
- Community Involvement: Participate in volunteer activities to practice these skills in a real-world setting.
- Advanced Level:
- Apply Skills in Varied Settings: Once you have a foundational understanding, seek out opportunities to apply your skills in diverse environments. For example, volunteer to host events at work or in your community to build leadership skills while adding to the positive atmosphere.
- Seek Feedback: Request constructive criticism from peers or mentors. Use their insights to refine your approach and build confidence in both practical and ornamental contributions.
Skill Transfer:
- Leverage Existing Skills: Identify how current abilities can help you build new ones. For instance:
- Public Speaking: If you’re good at presenting ideas, leverage this to mentor others by sharing knowledge.
- Attention to Detail: Use this skill to support emotional presence by observing small but significant details in interactions, which enhances relationships.
- Develop Dual-Purpose Traits: Aim to cultivate skills like storytelling, which can be useful for giving presentations (useful) and for making social interactions more engaging (ornamental).
Checklist/Template:
- Fillable Worksheet: Create a personal action plan with these sections:
- Self-Assessment: List current strengths and areas of interest.
- Initial Goals: Identify one way to develop in both ‘useful’ and ‘ornamental’ categories.
- Resources and Mentors: List sources of learning (courses, mentors).
- Application Plan: Define how and where you will practice these contributions.
- Feedback and Reflection: Keep a section for notes on feedback and self-reflection.
- Progress Tracking: Mark milestones achieved and next steps.
Developing your contributions in both categories is a dynamic, rewarding process that can expand your impact and improve the quality of your relationships and social presence.
Cultural Considerations
Global Perspectives: Different cultures hold varying expectations for what it means to contribute value to society. In many Western cultures, usefulness is often linked to tangible, measurable contributions like productivity, innovation, or leadership. A person’s ability to contribute to society is frequently associated with their career, expertise, or civic engagement. In contrast, Eastern cultures may place a stronger emphasis on community harmony, emotional intelligence, and subtler forms of social contribution. For instance, being a positive presence and promoting family unity can be seen as just as important as professional success.
Gender Roles: Expectations surrounding ‘useful’ and ‘ornamental’ contributions can often be influenced by gender roles and societal norms. In many traditional societies, women might be expected to contribute in ways that blend emotional support and being aesthetically pleasing, fulfilling both practical and ornamental roles. Men, on the other hand, might be expected to showcase practical usefulness through leadership and problem-solving. However, these stereotypes are evolving, with more individuals embracing multi-faceted roles that break traditional molds.
Adapting Non-Traditional Roles: For those whose natural inclinations do not align with conventional expectations, there are strategies to make non-traditional contributions more accepted and valued:
- Highlighting Unique Benefits: Emphasize the positive impact of your contributions. For example, someone who supports their community through creative expression (art, music) can illustrate how these acts promote mental health and cohesion.
- Creating Social Proof: Demonstrate the value of unconventional roles by seeking testimonials or visible successes that showcase the benefits of what you bring to the table.
- Networking and Advocacy: Connect with others who share similar roles and advocate for their recognition in society. This collective voice can help shift norms and broaden acceptance.
Modern Shifts: In recent years, there has been a growing appreciation for non-traditional and multi-dimensional roles. The increasing focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion has expanded the definition of what is valued within communities and workplaces. Traits once considered secondary, such as empathy, storytelling, and maintaining a positive environment, are now recognized for their vital contribution to mental health and productivity. Additionally, with the rise of digital spaces, individuals have more opportunities to showcase their unique blend of ‘useful’ and ‘ornamental’ traits, breaking down rigid cultural expectations and highlighting the importance of adaptability.
By understanding these cultural considerations and shifts, individuals can tailor their approach to contribute effectively while aligning with or challenging societal norms to foster change.
