If you’ve read my past articles on RepHunter, you know I often talk about the energy we create and share daily—with clients, staff, friends, and family. That energy shapes not only our relationships but also our outcomes in business and life.
One of my personal interests is studying ancient spiritual writings from different cultures and time periods. It’s fascinating how lessons from thousands of years ago still apply today.
Ancient languages often capture complex ideas in single words—concepts that take multiple words to explain in English. You might be familiar with terms like “karma,” “yoga,” and “avatar,” all of which come from Sanskrit, a 3,500-year-old language that influences much of South Asian culture.
Today, I want to share two more Sanskrit words—Metta and Mudita—that have no exact English equivalents but can add profound meaning to your business and life.
Metta: Extending Loving-Kindness Without Expectation
Metta is the practice of extending loving-kindness to everyone and everything, without expecting anything in return. It’s wisdom in action—a mindset that fosters connection, positivity, and growth.
Why this matters to your business: In today’s ego-driven, profit-focused world, what do you bring to the table that money can’t buy? Your personality—shaped by your thoughts, words, actions, and habits—defines how you show up for others.
Ancient Sanskrit culture understood that intentions matter. Whether you’re leading a team, managing clients, or running a business, the energy you bring influences results. Metta helps you put out good energy through thoughts and deeds, trusting that positivity will return to you—without keeping score.
A Real-World Example of Metta: I once worked with a client who needed last-minute lead generation services. Their previous attempts had failed, and we had just days to create a process that would normally take weeks.
We exceeded expectations—generating a backlog of prospects that overwhelmed their sales process and forced them to rethink how they handled new leads. Despite compliments and praise, they decided to bring sales in-house to manage the entire lead generation and sales process themselves and end our commission structure.
At first, I was disappointed. But I also felt proud of what my team accomplished. Practicing Metta helped me process the situation positively. We wrapped up the project professionally, handed over everything needed for their success, and moved on.
Three years later, I know they’re still using the lead generation system we created. I have no expectations of credit or acknowledgment—just gratitude for the experience and the lessons learned.
Metta Takeaways:
- Letting go of attachments—like a client relationship—can be hard, but Metta helps you do it with grace.
- It allows you to care deeply while remaining detached from the outcome.
- By releasing negativity, you create space for new thoughts, ideas, and opportunities.
Mudita: Finding Joy in the Success of Others
Mudita is the act of feeling genuine joy for the success and happiness of others—without comparing yourself or reflecting on what it means for you.
Why this matters to your business: Business often feels like a competition—winners and losers fighting over clients, employees, and market share. But what if we shifted our perspective? What if we could appreciate excellence wherever we see it and feel happy for others without judgment? A shift in this perspective is instead of looking at winning and losing think of this as “winning and lessons”. Lessons have to be learned by everyone, its how we grow.
A Real-World Example of Mudita: When I started my business in 2009, I was intimidated by technology. I felt paralyzed by fear that my analog methods were falling behind in a fast-moving digital world.
Learning about Mudita changed my perspective. Instead of feeling envy or fear, I began celebrating others’ success with technology. That shift made innovation feel more accessible—and allowed me to learn without judgment or insecurity.
Mudita Takeaways:
- Celebrate excellence in others without measuring it against yourself.
- Use that positive energy as inspiration rather than comparison.
- Recognize that success—for others and yourself—is part of a bigger journey.
Final Thoughts on Metta and Mudita
Practicing Metta and Mudita isn’t about ignoring business realities. It’s about letting go of attachments, ego, and negativity so you can focus on what truly matters.
Running a business or working as an independent sales rep can be challenging—with no guaranteed outcomes and high personal costs. These practices give you tools to manage wins, losses, and setbacks in healthy ways.
Think of negative emotions—jealousy, envy, anger—as hot coals. Holding onto them only burns you. Metta and Mudita help you drop those coals, freeing yourself for growth and better opportunities.
Letting go isn’t weakness—it’s strength. It’s trusting that good intentions and positive energy will lead to lasting success, even if the path looks different than you expected.
So as we head into 2025, I encourage you to bring Metta and Mudita into your work and life. Embrace kindness, celebrate success, and watch how this new intentional energy shapes your outcomes.
Wishing you success,
David Westdorp
David Westdorp Strategies
Direct: 778.994.3414
www.davidwestdorp.com