Who is Nipun Mehta, and why was he invited by the student body of an elite private school in Silicon Valley to give the commencement speech at their 2013 graduation ceramony?
Nipun Mehta at Commencement Speech-image via the video-see below
This story is my re-cap from the story of this speech written up in the Daily Good: News that inspires, an online newspaper that I receive, and which is one of Nipun Mehta’s start ups.
He was an unexpected choice for teenagers, who belong to what Time magazine called the “Me Me Me Generation”. Nipun’s journey is the antithesis of self-serving. More than a decade ago, he walked away from a lucrative career in high-tech, to explore the connection between inner change and external impact.
ServiceSpace, the nonprofit he founded, has now drawn over 450,000 members across the globe. In this electrifying address that garnered a standing ovation, he calls out the paradoxical crisis of disconnection in our hyper-connected world — and offered up three powerful keys that hold the antidote.
“At the core of all of today’s most pressing challenges is one fundamental issue: we have become profoundly disconnected.” Nipun Mehta in his commencement address
The three keys to rectify this are:
First is to Give-the premise is GIFTIVISM: the practice of radically generous acts that change the world. We have been conditioned to equate price with value, the time has come to change this. Serving others Nipun say’s will change this. Practice generosity and kindness.
Yes, give to receive-image via Sunny Slide Up
Second is to Receive-“When we give, we think we are helping others. That’s true, but we are also helping ourselves. With any act of unconditional service, no matter how small, our bio-chemistry changes, our mind quiets, and we feel a sense of gratefulness. This inner transformation fundamentally shifts the direction of our lives.”
And third is to Dance-“Our biggest problem with giving and receiving is that we try and track it. And when we do that, we lose the beat. The best dancers are never singularly focused on the mechanics of their movements. They know how to let go, tune into the rhythm and synchronize with their partners.”
To listen to the commencement address in full, watch the video below, or, if you prefer to read it, here is the article in it’s entirety. Either way, it’s worth the time. What do you think? Is it time to give more?
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