A GENEROUS SPIRIT
'If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one.'
Mother Teresa
I'm often taken aback at the generosity of others. Not just
friends, but strangers too.
In my work I come into contact with lots of people and I've
noticed recently that all of them share a generosity of spirit. So
many want to give back to their community, most care about making a
difference to the people around them and all are generous in what
they are willing to share with me. I've noticed too, that people who
don't necessarily have a lot to give are often the very people
giving the most.
Generosity is an interesting thing. To be generous, we need to
feel that we have something to give, we have to want to be giving
and we generally need to trust that our generosity will be well
received.
Some people hold back from giving because they are genuinely
depleted...completely drained because they feel that all they've
done is give of themselves. Others don't give because they come from
a mentality of scarcity, thinking there's not enough to go around so
they clutch what they have tightly to their chests. And others don't
give because they doubt the value of what they have to offer.
Sadly, in each of these cases, the lack of generosity has its
biggest impact on the person who's not being giving. When you give
of yourself, you get something back. It might not be immediate and
it may not be in the same form, but it happens. When you open up the
possibility that there is more than enough of everything to go
around (money, time, food, shelter) you not only want to enrich
other people's lives by sharing your own good fortune but you create
the possibility that your own life can be abundant in every way. And
when you believe in yourself enough to trust your instincts, you'll
know that even the smallest act of generosity will be well received.
Think about where you're most 'stingy'. Is it with time, love,
patience or money? And give of yourself...today, in even the
smallest of ways.
- Set up a regular payment to a charity of your choice
- Cook a meal for a friend who is overworked or unwell
- Buy your partner a bunch of tulips
- Take your child on an outing to a place of their choice
- Remember someone's birthday and post them a card that will
arrive right on the day
- Write a friend a letter telling them what you love about
them
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