Be A Fountain, Not A Drain

Be a fountain, not a drain. Uplift others with intentional kindness and encouragement. Toxic people drain joy, and harm mental health. Fountains nourish souls.

Joanie's Story

At just 25 years old, Joanie has been a fountain of joy to the disadvantaged elementary school students she teaches for the past 4 years.

Joanie intimately understands hardship, having grown up a foster child herself, shuffled between placements until finding a stable home in 5th grade.

It was there she met Minnie, an elderly woman who took Joanie under her wing and first shared the phrase "be a fountain, not a drain."

Minnie taught her the power of seeing the good in people and uplifting others through small acts of kindness.

She learned how nurturing relationships can bless those struggling with toxic habits.

Now as a teacher herself, Joanie brings this mindset into her 2nd grade classroom daily.

Her students excel so remarkably on standardized tests that Joanie will be promoted to a newly created role overseeing district instructional development, in the next school year.

As she helps fellow teachers integrate practices for spreading positivity that seem innate for her, Joanie remembers Minnie’s mantra: “Pay it forward - be a fountain to someone fighting a silent battle today."

With wisdom and empathy beyond her years, Joanie aims to uplift the world by building people up, not tearing them down.

She fills her own cup in the process, understanding that intentional kindness returns tenfold.

The personal rewards of choosing to be a fountain, not a drain, are immense, as Joanie discovered.

She fills her own cup from the inside out, feeling happier, more fulfilled, and adding meaning to her life as a teacher.

When Joanie makes a habit of uplifting students with encouragement and spreading positivity in relationships, it motivates them to pay that blessing forward.

Her small acts of kindness snowball, seeing the good in children when they cannot see it themselves.

In this way, fountains like Joanie create ripples of light to counter darkness.

Seeking to understand rather than judge cultivates empathy and wisdom within.

By nurturing relationships with compassion, Joanie grows as an educator, learning what students need when struggling with toxic habits or destructive criticism that has broken their spirit.

Choosing the high road trains Joanie's mind to default to Hope instead of cynicism.

When she fills her own cup by being a blessing to students, she gains moral authority and influence.

Children instinctively draw near to teachers who uplift them rather than draining behaviors that exacerbate wounds.

That makes fountains like Joanie natural mentors.

At times, being a fountain requires sacrifice - giving the benefit of the doubt rather than bitterness, a soft word instead of condemnation.

But living by the creed to "be a fountain, not a drain" safeguards Joanie's own soul from toxicity while making the world cleaner, softer, and kinder.

What could be more valuable?

Three Ways Joanie Continues To Be
A Fountain, Not A Drain

As a teacher, Joanie has discovered countless ways to be a fountain, not a drain in her interactions.

She focuses on spreading positivity in relationships, whether with students, fellow teachers, or parents.

Joanie remains mindful of how even small actions can uplift others.

Small acts of kindness require little effort but sprinkle joy widely. Joanie takes time to greet every student by name while holding the door. She lets people go ahead of her in line at the copy machine. Writing quick thank you notes to fellow teachers for their help nurtures relationships. These fountains understand a blessing given returns tenfold.
Generosity with one’s wisdom enriches entire communities. Joanie selflessly shares classroom techniques with other teachers to avoid toxic behaviors like resentment between coworkers. She remembers Minnie paying lessons forward from her own life experience. Now Joanie freely gives the knowledge and skills gained from her successes. Through open communication and empathy, fountains transform barriers into bridges.
Simple, sincere compliments uplift spirits like nothing else. Joanie makes sure to notice students’ small victories and praise their progress. Her words help children see the good in themselves. With parents, her empathy and non-judgmental approach builds trust. By focusing on solutions with compassion, Joanie scatters seeds of self-worth that blooms hope.

Joanie’s mentor, Minnie, showed her the quiet influence a fountain can wield through care for human dignity.

Her legacy ripples outward as Joanie chooses to build up rather than tear down.

What better way to fill one's own cup than being a fountain of second chances to the drained and defeated?

Each act of reviving someone’s dream advances the world.

The Toxicity Of Being A Drain

The toxicity of choosing to be a drain manifests in one’s professional and personal lives.

Such behaviors drain energy, destroy self-esteem, and alienate relationships over time.

Janice, a 28-year old manager, exemplifies the downward spiral of embodying a drain.

Her accounting unit struggles with constant staff taking mental health days or even quitting the company after joining her section.

In two years, Janice has seen 65% turnover.

She copes poorly, gaining 30 pounds and getting into arguments during happy hours.

Her dating life is non-existent, not that she makes time for it.

Janice is frequently late for work - not qualities that inspire leadership.

How did Janice end up so drained herself?

Her cynicism and pessimism drag her team down.

She reacts with criticism and judgment, rather than constructive feedback.

Janice publicly berates employees over small mistakes.

By refusing to nurture talent, she incites resentment.

Janice’s toxicity stems from arrogance and feeling threatened by others’ potential.

Her constant blaming spreads negativity across the organization.

She fuels drama with snide comments that violate trust. Janice leaves people feeling belittled.

Sadly, Janice remains oblivious to how her draining behaviors alienate colleagues.

She dismisses the chaos as mysterious rather than examining her own role.

But when someone cuts others down to feel tall, eventually, no one is left to stand on.

Drains stem from inner turmoil, yet spread destruction outwardly. Janice tears down her team’s self-confidence and capacity for joy.

Her criticism serves no one, only breeding fear and anger. A self-perpetuating cycle, as conflict fuels Janice’s toxicity.

Without intervention, drains radiate darkness wherever they flow, extinguishing light in people’s eyes.

But one flicker of self-awareness for Janice could spark change.

Perhaps renewing her own depleted reserves of empathy and wisdom would transform her unit into a fountain.

Three Traits Of Spirit-Draining People

While any of us can temporarily become drains when struggling, some common traits characterize those stagnantly toxic:

Chronic pessimists siphon hope from even positive situations. Janice shoots down her team’s ideas for improvements with destructive criticism - “that will never work” - rather than brainstorming how to remove obstacles. Her incessant gloom becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure for the unit.
Arrogant know-it-alls must prove their superiority by making others feel small in comparison. Janice flaunts her credentials, quickly pointing out mistakes to humiliate employees rather than nurture relationships. By refusing to acknowledge her own gaps in generational rapport and emotional intelligence, Janice drains the talents of young hires.
Hypercritical judges hold everyone to unrealistic standards that they themselves don’t meet. Janice scrutinizes tiny breaches of policy yet strolls in late without remorse. Her hypocrisy breeds resentment, as people feel demoralized trying to satisfy unreasonable expectations.

The deepest toxicity stems from a lack of self-awareness about how one’s behaviors prevent relationships that fill your own cup.

Until Janice confronts the dissatisfaction within, spurring her pendulum swings between apathy and micro-management, her unit will continue to suffer from instability. A toxic workplace.

Gaining wisdom starts with taking responsibility.

Conclusion: Be A Fountain, Not A Drain

In the end, we each face a daily choice. Will we uplift others as a gentle fountain, or drain vitality like a toxic whirlpool?

Our influence ripples outward through words and deeds, nourishing souls or diminishing heartbeats like Joanie and Janice demonstrate.

Joanie lives the reality that a blessing you give returns tenfold. By making small acts of kindness habitual, she builds trust and inspires hope.

Her classroom thrives thanks to Joanie filling her own cup in order to pour positivity into relationships.

What better legacy than to be a fountain for the next generation?

Janice sadly remains too focused inward to witness the hurt her behaviors cause.

Her toxic habits have ruined careers and alienated colleagues despite accolades in accounting.

No title can compensate for the lack of esteem Janice shows employees.

Her Unit’s potential will continue being drained until she embodies the humility to nurture rather than criticize.

Therefore, we must catch negative thoughts before they cascade destructively.

Consciously count your blessings and reframe draining behaviors like Janice.

Perform small acts of kindness as Joanie practices. In doing so, we can turn conflicts into connections.

Choosing to be a fountain, not a drain saves not only relationships, but our own souls.

For what is life without love if not a mirage?

Restore your faith in humanity - become a fountain worthy of this world’s precious hearts.

Great Resources

Be You, Only Better - Audiobook

Emotional Intelligence 2.0 - Audiobook

Teaching Kids To Be Kind - Audiobook