Three Steps to Looking Beneath Your Feelings
December 14, 2017
Life Truly Lived Is Risky Business – Seven Steps Towards Truly Living It
January 11, 2018
“Conventional wisdom would say that the less you give, the more you have. The converse is true. The more you give, the more you have. Abundance creates the ability to give; giving creates more abundance. I don’t mean this simply in financial terms. The principle is true in every area of your life.” – Jim Stovall – The Ultimate Gift
Giving brings joy to the giver and the receiver. It draws on our need to connect, to be positive and to be involved. It makes the world a better place and gives us a purpose for living. Studies show that people who give are happier than those who do not.
Giving is a personal matter and an action that holds both the giver and receiver in high regard. It’s a circle that’s not complete if the two parts are not there.
Christmas time is a season in which many of us give to others. We may give gifts of our time, our talent and our treasure. Whether our gift is something tangible or a gift of comfort, nurturing, energy, or ourselves healthy giving needs to be something we can afford.
When we give, we may find it’s a fine-lined behaviour which we must each seek to understand for ourselves. Healthy giving is something that feels good and doesn’t leave us feeling victimized or drained. It needs to be based on our desire to do it, rather than from a sense of guilt, pity, shame or obligation. Healthy giving has no strings attached.
Learning to give in a health way requires love for the giver and the receiver; it needs to work for both parties.
Keeping an eye on your giving is important so you don’t cross the line into caretaking. How are you giving? Ask yourself what motivates you to give. Do you give because:
• It’s a responsibility
• You feel afraid to say no
• You feel obligated, guilty, ashamed or superior
• You want others to like you
• You want to prove you’re worthy
• You simply want to, and it feels right
When you give for the right reason it keeps healthy energy flowing among us, our Creator and others. Giving is a healthy life practice … but give what feels right, feels good, feels clean and what you can afford financially, physically, mentally and spiritually.
Sending you and your loved ones’ boundless joy, peace and happiness for this Christmas Season and the New Year.
