The Top Secrets About Giving
Sunday, January 17th, 2010The secret of attaining what one wants has been revealed. It is just the simple act of giving. The basis of this is explained in the background of the classical dictum “Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?” Chicken and the egg, continuously forming the cycle of life and renewing it, is a profound example of giving and getting what one wants: the circle of joy. This idea is fully analyzed in the resonant voice of Masami Sato, the author of the book ONE.
As human beings, most of us have yearnings for different kinds of things. And of course, the fundamental principles of economics tell us that while needs are unlimited, resources are not. This makes us think that the more resources we have, the more yearnings we would be able to satisfy. As such we tend to safeguard our resources. We would then feel that giving away these resources or splitting it between many would lessen the portion that can be used to get what we desire. This is the conventional win-lose strategy that is being played out.
Then, is it true?
What if the answer was “no”? What if it actually contradicts the secret of getting more? What if the secret to get more is simple - by giving more?
You can get something simply by giving. Just like you can have eggs by breeding chickens. Just like that. Natural. Automatic. And it’s an absolutely joyful experience.
First, let us start with a little analogy to explain more.
Chicken and Egg: The Circle of Life
Philosophers have asked this question since the dawn of time, “Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?”
There is a simple answer to this unending doubt. It is that the question is unimportant, since both chicks and eggs are here now. Nevertheless, if one wants a greater effect, one can choose to start somewhere.
Giving and Receiving: the Circle of Joy
What if we asked the question in a different manner? “Which comes first, giving or receiving?”
Again, if we want to have greater results, we can choose to start somewhere. Giving something to others is surely so much easier than trying to get it first!
What happens if we are trying to get it first?
If we want to have something, naturally we try to get it. And we try to hold on to it after getting it. This is very natural to do-it makes sense intellectually.
But the actual result of ‘trying to get’ is mostly not ample and actual long term benefits.
For example, wanting to see others being happy is not about getting the joy from them or controlling them to become happy. It is about how much joy we can give them and share with them. Period.
So where do we start to get what we want?
By starting from the other end of the circle- by giving generously!
When we start giving before we even have what we hope to get - that which we dream of - we are sending out a powerful message to ourselves which tells us, ‘there is enough, and more will come.’ It allows us to sense the joy today - the joy of giving.
We only need to give out the love generously to others. It simply comes back to us. Giving love is the only way to be generously loved. When we acknowledge everyone for the great things they do and the great qualities they have, again it comes back to us. Others acknowledge us because we acknowledge them.
In much the same manner, if we want to have enough of everything in our lives physically, financially, and emotionally, we must share these things in ample measure with others.
Some people may choose to give materially by giving their time. Others would choose to give financially by giving their wealth. Those who give much more (like time, wealth, kindness, affection, principles etc.) have more of all these because it is the balance. And balance is the law of nature.
Just keep in mind the rule of the game
Important rule: never give anything expecting a return.
When we have the conviction that giving has got as its inherent part, ‘getting’ something back, we become upset when do not see the return immediately. We may even feel a slight dissatisfaction towards the receiver of our gift. And surely, nurturing a bad feeling for someone is not a proper thing to do! So we can experience the real happiness of giving when we are doing something with the knowledge that we are doing it only for ourselves - we are doing it for our own happiness!
Losing to win, giving to receive
It may initially feel like we are losing out. Yet at some level we know that getting without giving is not a sustainable life model. And we’ve known that from the very beginning. That’s why tithing has been such a natural part of the lives of many successful people. And they didn’t always do it publicly so it wasn’t done to gain a better reputation. It was just because that was the way it was.
Just take a look around. ‘Simple’ forms of life on the earth do it routinely. The bumblebees fertilize the flowers in return for the honey they take from them and ensure that the flowers bloom profusely. Habitually. That is the rule. They do not do it consciously. That is why they maintain nature’s balance, without even trying.
Giving is just being who we are, it is just like having; not greater or lesser. No difficulty, no conditions attached, just releasing oneself.
The gist of getting more can be summarised into two steps: Give first, and do not hope to get anything in return.
When we let go and give generously, what we want will be delivered to us. Naturally.
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