Generosity

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:38 KJV)

Generosity is what keeps the things you own from owning you.  In other words, generosity isn’t just to help others, it’s also to liberate you. You will end up very disappointed if you expect people will always do for you as you do for them.  Not everyone has the same heart as you, which is why you cannot live abundantly until you have done something nice for someone who can never repay you. Know this and live graciously.  There is no exercise better for your heart and mind than reaching down and lifting people up.

While giving is usually considered a selfless act, giving is often more beneficial for the giver than the receiver.  In other words, providing social support of any kind can actually be more helpful to the bigger picture of our lives than receiving it.  Intuitively I think we all know this, because it feels amazing to help someone who needs it and that’s because lasting happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.

The science behind this is simple. Performing any act of kindness releases Serotonin in your brain.  Serotonin is a natural substance that has incredible health benefits, including making you feel more joyful.  However, what’s even greater about this is that not only will you feel better, but so will others watching your act of kindness transpire. Yes, even bystanders will be blessed with a release of Serotonin just by watching you give kindness.  On a side note the job of most anti-depressants is to release more Serotonin.  Giving unconditionally removes the need for artificial stimulation.

So just keep in mind that while you can’t give all of yourself all of the time, you can give some of yourself some of the time, and doing so will make all the difference.