Series: The DGL® Series — Blog 1
Discover transformative books by Dr. Sanjay Runwal: 1. SBOP Living, 2. Living the MGH Way, 3. Golden Retirement and 4. Thoughtful Reflections
The birth of Doing Good in Life (DGL®) is inseparable from the evolution of the Systematic Blow Out Plan (SBOP Living®). As the framework matured through years of research and personal application, it became clear that a truly magnificent life could not be lived only for oneself. While personal success and security are essential, they are merely the preparation for a much larger mission of significance.
The first stage of the SBOP® framework, FY (For Yourself), is centred on enjoyment and satisfaction. It is the conscious choice to celebrate life, to honour your individuality, and to experience the richness of living. Within this tenet, travel, hobbies, comforts, and meaningful experiences are not viewed as indulgences but as affirmations of life. FY ensures that your happiness is not postponed endlessly and that you live with vitality and balance in the present.
The second stage, FYF (For Your Future), extends this balance into strategic foresight. It is about planning wisely, securing long-term stability, and preparing for future responsibilities. FYF ensures that your future self, your family, and your commitments are cared for with dignity and clarity. It is the tactical landing gear that provides the necessary peace of mind.
The Search for the Missing Dimension
Yet, as a Humanologist, I realized that FY and FYF remain primarily inward focused. They serve the individual and the immediate family unit. During my reflections, it became evident that something was missing: a dimension that would balance self-orientation with selflessness. This realization gave rise to the third and most profound tenet: DGL®.
Doing Good in Life (DGL®) is my original and personal realization. It represents a significant contribution to the philosophy of living, a framework born not from borrowed theory, but from lived insight and deep reflection. DGL® is the conscious act of returning to society through our deeds, our thoughts, and our compassion. It is about selflessly touching the lives of other beings through kindness, empathy, forgiveness, and generosity. This may involve offering your time, prayers, blessings, knowledge, skills, or wealth, always without the expectation of anything in return.
A Strategic Counterweight for Completeness
In this way, DGL® became the essential counterweight to the combined forces of FY and FYF. It gives SBOP Living® its true completeness. This tenet transformed the framework from being merely about personal enjoyment and financial planning into a philosophy of contribution and transcendence. It is the element that turns a successful life into a significant one.
DGL® also resonates with the highest levels of modern psychology, specifically aligning with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It addresses the highest human aspiration: self transcendence. Where FY and FYF secure the self, DGL® elevates the self by dissolving boundaries and creating a legacy that endures long after we are gone.
Connecting with Timeless Wisdom
Equally, the principles of DGL® connect with the timeless ideals of Indian philosophy, providing a bridge between modern life and ancient truth:
First, it embodies Karma Yoga, which is the path of selfless action. In this state, work is performed not for personal reward but for the upliftment of others. DGL® encourages acts done purely for goodness, without attachment to outcomes.
Second, it reflects Aparigraha, the principle of non-possessiveness. This reminds us that clinging too tightly to wealth or status limits our spiritual growth. DGL® channels resources outward, teaching us that true abundance lies in sharing rather than in accumulation.
For those in their prime years, between the ages of 35 and 65, DGL® offers a vital path to balance ambition with contribution. It allows you to pair your professional success with personal significance. It is the most effective way of creating a legacy that lives on in the hearts of many.
Your Reflection and Action Points
- Assess the Balance: Look at your daily activities. How much of your energy is spent on your own enjoyment (FY) and future security (FYF) versus selfless contribution (DGL®)?
- Define Your Contribution: Beyond financial donations, what unique knowledge or skills (your 5Es) can you offer to your community without expecting anything in return?
- The Intent of Service: Identify one small act of kindness you can perform today. Can you do it with a pure heart, focusing entirely on the benefit to the other person?
- Check the Attachment: Are you able to perform a good deed and then walk away without needing recognition or a "thank you"? How does this practice of SDL (Semi Detachment in Life) feel?
- The Legacy Vision: When you think about being remembered, what specific "footprints" of goodness do you wish to leave on the sands of time?
Your golden moments of a purposeful life are happening right now, in this very second. Do not allow a digital notification to steal the presence required to live them magnificently.
Dr. Sanjay Runwal
Business Strategist and Humanologist
Discover transformative books by Dr. Sanjay Runwal: 1. SBOP Living, 2. Living the MGH Way, 3. Golden Retirement and 4. Thoughtful Reflections