The Gift of Generosity

Have you ever received a thoughtful message from a long lost friend? Or noticed that your neighbor has raked the leaves from your front lawn? These acts are just a few ways of expressing generosity. It is a quality of being kind and giving something of value. It can range anything from time, attention, or money. When we are giving with best intentions and without anything in return, we receive more benefits than we can imagine. Our mental and physical healths are greatly improved. We are happier and fulfilled because we have developed meaningful connections with society. We are vastly enriched by the experiences of generosity. 

However, at times, we tend to limit our generosity to others. Why? Because we believe that we live in a world of scarcity and limitations. Fortunately for us, if we change our attitude to an abundant attitude, we will soon realize that there is plenty that we can give to others. So, how can we have a generous attitude? Here are the steps toward becoming generous.

  • Understanding: Take time to understand as much as we can about the person we want to give. Listening to their stories is one way to know the person’s current needs and situation. This act alone by giving our attention is a type of generosity. 
  • Creativity: The next step is to use our imagination to discover creative ways to be generous for that person. How can we give to him/her to make their day better? Perhaps, we can pick up the groceries for the elderly friend, or create a thank you video for the teacher that is working hard these days. Or even volunteering to babysit for free so that the parents can run their errands. No matter how big or small the act is, our positive intentions behind it are the most significant part.
  • Execution: Now that we have several ideas to express our generosity, it is time to deliver them with joy and a smile. Keep in mind, at times, the acts of generosity can be spontaneously done without any planning. Both types of execution are incredible as they come from a great place within. 
  • Acceptance: Lastly, when we give to others, more often, they will express their gratitude and want to reciprocate. Even if we feel uncomfortable or shy from their generosity, we have to be open to it as it is a two way street in building the relationship [1]. In these cases, it is great to accept and appreciate their gratitude and their generous act.

Generosity is truly a gift that we can give to everyone. There are abundant opportunities to infuse generosity everywhere. This lifestyle of generosity will make our world a better place to live in. 


REFLECTION 

  • How do you feel when people are generous to you?
  • What is the next random act of kindness that you want to do for others?

 

WATCH YOUTUBE VIDEO

We have created a video where you can watch the main highlights of this wisdom on our YouTube channel below.

 

DOWNLOAD PDF

We have a PDF version of the blog that summarizes its key points for you to review. You can download the PDF from the link below.

 

 

REFERENCES

[1] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-benefits-of-generosit_b_5448218

 

Back to Blog