Three Kinds of Giving

There are three types of giving that are important to your longterm growth:

1. Giving back to the source. This is one of the most misunderstood types of giving. There are many self help and get rich quick schemes out there. They all have no term or short term success. Why? Because there is no spiritual basis for the schemes. The focus is on getting and not on giving. The first step in consistent receiving from the universe is consistent giving back to the universal source.

2. Giving to yourself. Yes, progress begins with self improvement. It is possible to overgive to others and undergive to yourself. This sets off imbalance. You must focus on your self improvement and self development if you want to help others. You must have strength, wisdom, and substance before you can share these qualities with others. When you overgive to others, you feel depleted and resentful. This causes a sense of lack and feels degrading. Give something to yourself right away.

3. After giving to the source and to yourself, you can now freely give to others. You can transform your life by transforming what you give out. Tune in to your divine channel and you will know where and what to give. You will be well grounded because you are balanced. Your giving will have more meaning to you and to those receiving your outflow. You will be divinely directed and will complete the giving and receiving circle of life and love.

Micro Lending to Give Back

I've just joined KIVA, a wonderful organization that lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. You help sponsor a business and help the working poor move up the economic ladder. It's amazing how little it takes to help people in these countries get the materials they need to start and grow a business. And Kiva has a 100% track record on loans being repaid!

Click here to link to my portfolio of loans. I'm recommending you consider signing up. You'll be amazed at how good you'll feel and the good your action will produce.

Lesson 6. Giving Back The power of GIVING. Nothing is more rewarding than giving back. Nothing hurries RECEIVING as rapidly as giving. The universal law is that what you give you get back tenfold. If you want a meaningful life you must do meaningful things. How to give back personally. How to give back professionally. What is your social responsibility? Get involved. Put the power of increase to work for you.

The ABC's of Giving

Point # 6 of the Dynamic Transitioning program is Giving Back. The Power of GIVING. Nothing is more rewarding than giving back. If you want a meaningful life, you must do meaningful things. Before the first month of the year is out, you'll want to think about how you plan to give back this year.

The ABC's of Giving
How much do you know about philanthropy, the nonprofit and volunteer sector, and the importance of giving your time, talent and treasure for the common good? What's the difference between philanthropy and charity? What's the role of government in giving and service? Most Americans have relied in the past on churches, families, friends and neighborhoods to teach the value and significance of service and giving.

Giving money is always useful and most people are eager to help out in a disaster like the Katrina hurricane or the tsunami of 2004. But money is not the only thing to think of when giving back. There are many ways you can get started - here's an "elementary" list of the ABC's of Giving.

A: applaud someone for doing a great job
B: bake something for a homeless shelter
C: care for a sick animal
D: donate a book to your library
E: encourage a friend to volunteer with you
F: form a service club or project with your friends
G: give a helping hand to an older person
H: help clean up a part of your neighborhood
I: illustrate a picture for someone
J: join a club
K: kindly ask if you can help someone
L: listen to and respect people
M: make something special for someone you love
N: notice if someone needs your help
O: offer to help out a neighbor
P: participate in a fundraiser
Q: quietly share
R: remember to say please and thank you
S: share a book with someone who cannot read
T: teach someone about the importance of caring
U: use the lifeskills
V: volunteer to help out at a local community function
W: welcome a guest in your business or school
X: explain what philanthropy means to you
Y: yes to sharing and caring
Z: zip up someone’s coat

Giving and Receiving

Giving is a principle I am committed to in my life and I give on many levels. When I created Dynamic Transitioning, I included Giving Back as a pillar in the 7 Point Program. There is Power in Giving, and you should have both formal and informal ways of giving. By the way, a smile or encouraging comment to a friend, co-worker, or family member is a wonderful way to give informally.

I've read that there are three kinds of giving:
1. Give to the Source. You must acknowledge a greater divinity to be on the road to Enlightenment.
2. Give to yourself. You must improve yourself before you can help others.
3. Give something to someone else. This can be charity, good works, formal and/or informal.

What about receiving?

Did you know it is just as spiritual to receive gracefully and with dignity as it is to give? This surprises some people. Have you ever had this experience: You want to do something for a friend and they resist your 'gift'? Let's say you've offered to cook dinner for a busy friend and she keeps saying, "No, you don't have to do that. Don't worry about me....I'll be just fine". You then may feel rejected and a little hurt because your friend wouldn't RECEIVE what you wanted to GIVE.

There is an art to Receiving.
We assume that to receive should be a normal process, and yet a surprising number of people feel unworthy or guilty about receiving and succeeding. Some people actually have trouble accepting their good fortune. Others push away and reject their good, like the example of the friends above. Turns out, you may be missing out on the good the Universe wants you to have by not being open to receiving. You need to prepare yourself to receive. You may be asking in prayer or meditation for something to happen. You now need to follow through by preparing to receive that answer.

People are in your life for a reason.
Our giving and receiving is done by, for, and through people. The Universe uses people as the channels of giving to you. Think about the people in your life. Think about how they have given advice, help, money, experience, time, prayer, love, affection, caring, education, and more that has greatly contributed to your growth, your home, your prosperity, you serenity, your family, your happiness, etc. Doors open through people. Opportunities come through people.

Now ask yourself this, "Am I cutting off the channels of receiving by not appreciating the people that are in my life? Or by not being open to new people?"

And what about the "problem" people - those we just don't like - a co-worker you can't stand, a family member you dread seeing at the holiday table, people who just irk you in some way or another. Why are these people in your life...if the Universe uses people for giving? What can they possibly be GIVING you?

Problem people are in our lives by divine appointment. They are in our lives to learn something from us and receive our approval, or so that we may learn something from them. Instead of resenting and criticizing the problem people in your life, you will want to send them energy that acknowledges they are in your life by divine appointment. Your job is to be open to receiving the gift they have for you and send them on their way with your approval. Just thinking this way takes the sting out of problem relationships and begins to set them right.

Practice giving and receiving today.

Your conscious participation in these activities and mental states - giving in a more natural way, and receiving in a gracious way - will give you a sense of hope and freedom, and your relationships will become more harmonious.