THE JOY OF GIVING
The more you give of yourself, the more you find of yourself. We all know how great it feels to receive gifts. However, the joy of getting is short-lived. Our lives are richer when we share, and that great inner joy comes from helping others to better their lives.
Truly giving from the heart fills your life with joy and nourishes your soul. Giving provides an intrinsic reward that is far more valuable than the gift. *_As Mahatma Gandhi said, “To find yourself, lose yourself in the service of others.”
Giving takes you out of yourself and allows you to expand beyond earthly limitations. True joy lies in the act of giving without an expectation of receiving something in return.
Academic research and thousands of years of human history confirm that achieving meaning, fulfillment, and happiness in life comes from making others happy, and not from being self-centred. _Mother Teresa is a famous example. She found fulfillment in giving of herself to others. She helped change the expression on dying people’s faces from distress and fear to calmness and serenity. She made their undeniable pain a little easier to bear.
WHY GIVE?
When people are asked why they give, the readiest answers include: _God wants me to; I feel better about myself; others need, and I have; I want to share; it’s only right. The question I would ask is how did you feel? I imagine you felt incredibly pleased with yourself and happy inside.
It has been my experience that when you are focused on giving to others, you’re less likely to become consumed by your own concerns and challenges. Giving provides an opportunity to look beyond our own world and see the bigger picture.
A great perspective can be achieved by stepping out of our own world and venturing into the world of other people. *Your worries and challenges may not seem as significant when compared to other people’s situations. *
The act of giving kindles self-esteem and brings happiness. Scientists have discovered that happiness is related to how much gratitude you show.
