Which comes first?
…Receiving or Giving?
There have been a few times in my life (and I know you’ve had them too) where I didn’t think I had much to give … times I’ve been exhausted from giving out of obligation, overwhelm, a need to be noticed, or because I felt I had something to prove.
Other times, my giving has been inspired from deep within, from a Love rising through me that I cannot help but share. I call this Inspired Giving, and it feels like God is giving through me. When I open to this type of giving, I am nourished beyond belief and have more than enough energy for whatever comes before me.
In the summer of 2009, I experienced a powerful example of this in my financial life. It was a time there wasn’t enough money coming in to meet monthly obligations. I was in great anxiety over finances and had stopped most of my monthly donations because I felt there wasn’t enough. Fear and resentment had replaced my normal positive outlook, and I was feeling very stuck in the muck. Then a little voice said, ‘give more money to what you believe in’ … so I did. Within one month, two properties that were draining our cashflow sold, and we received an unexpected check in the mail.
It was such an immediate response that I knew it was an important message for me to remember and share: open to greater financial flow through giving. It’s so easy to be in fear with our finances, one of the most basic forms of security. Somehow, the simple act of giving, even a few dollars, says “I know this is important and I’m going to believe there is more where this came from.”
If you’re waiting to receive more time, more energy, more money … more anything, don’t wait any longer. Find something that inspires you and just start giving. When you give from a place of inspiration, you’ll receive all you need to keep the flow going.
The 3-6-12 Giving Challenge
We’re looking for 100 generous individuals to help launch The Grassroots Giving Network. Will you be one of them? Simply commit to give $12 for 3, 6, or 12 months ($36-$144 total) to begin this stream of collaborative giving. (Of course, you are also welcome to give more, but we wanted to make it simple to say YES!)
There’s more info at the website, and the Giving Link is there too. Take a look and then take a leap… or rather a small step that will turn into a nice Leap of Giving when we all join together.
I received such a Gift this morning! The sun was streaming through my window, so I decided to move my wakeup yoga practice outside. As I was completing a final standing stretch, with the help of a tree, three deer walked by and stopped to stare at me. It was as if they were wondering if I was part of the tree, and as I gazed back at them, I indeed felt part of everything-the tree, the deer, the air, the radiant sun. My body and mind simply melted into a rest point where everything was at peace…and yet I felt vitally alive!







