The first time I heard that giving away what I want for myself is the way for me to get more of what I want, I thought that was a crazy mixed-up concept. How could I possibly get more of what I want, if I gave away what little I had to begin with? Could that really be the path to be happier?
I was thinking about money at the time. The person told me if I gave my money freely, it would be returned to me ten fold. Ten fold! So if I gave away $20, I would get back $200? Okay, count me in!
Ah, what that person never told me was the other part about giving. The most important part of giving is giving freely, from your heart. Give because you want to and not because you have an agenda, or any kind of expectation, including getting a return on your investment.
Ah ha. Now I get it. Giving is not the same as gifting. Hmm. Let me clarify what I am thinking. To me, when I give a gift, I give it with joy, with love. I usually make my gifts, so for me that item is filled with my personal time, energy, attention, and unfathomable love. I never gift anything to anyone unless I want to.
On the other hand, I often give because I feel a duty to make a difference for someone, or for some cause. I would like to say, even then, I give my time and energy because I want to, in my heart. But sometimes that is just not the case.
Often, after investing my time and energy into something or someone I originally thought I had no desire to support, I do a turn-around and find I feel grateful for having had that precious opportunity. Yes, opportunity often appears in surprising disguises.
Just a quick note, after giving my time to anyone or anything, I feel better as a person, and I also feel so grateful that I was the giver rather than the receiver in need. You can definitely be happier by giving away what you want most.
And know it truly will come back to you ten fold-just not in the way you think it will.
Ali Bierman shows you how to be happier by changing the unknown belief systems that stop you cold. Grab her free ebook What You Don't Know You Don't Know Runs You to make your life happier now at http://creatingthelife.com/ebook.html
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