All of this reminds me of what I wrote about giving in my last book.
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Giving is powerful, transforming both the giver and the receiver.
I’ve often felt that perhaps the greatest joy of teaching for me is that I am giving the very best of myself and what I’ve learned. Frankly, teaching becomes an almost selfish act since not only do I receive so much back, I also most like being the person I am while teaching. The more I give my students, the more I receive.
In the same way, giving to others allows us to connect with the best part of ourselves: the capacity to be generous because we know that all is well, that we have more than enough to share, and that we are all connected. Giving lets us plug into a greater flow, a greater current of energy than we usually experience, one where fear and lack no longer have power over us.
There are, of course, infinite ways of giving, ranging from traditional tithing (giving 10% of your earnings to a religious organization) to volunteering your time and talents.
Perhaps the most important aspect of giving back is that it should happen NOW, not in some vague future moment when we imagine having a surplus of cash and time on our hands.
You don’t need to wait until you can finance a new wing to a hospital or endow a chair at a medical university; for only $50 you can give sight to a blind person through the Seva Foundation, for example, showing the astronomical benefit a relatively small amount of money can provide.
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Today I invite you not only to give something to someone somewhere (up to you to choose how, where, and why, of course), but also to see how giving transforms YOU.
What expands when you are your most generous self?
And remember… it doesn’t have to involve money.
As Simone Weil said:
“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.”
Edward
P.S. If you’re in NYC, and want to come to the workshop–
or if you’re inspired to learn more / donate–info is HERE.
