Quotes and Wisdom
from the Top of the Mind™
from the Top of the Mind™
Giving & Receiving
"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
This is another quote on "giving" that I have chosen because it seems to apply nicely to this holiday season. This quote also goes nicely with last week's quote: "True generosity is when you give your all and yet feel as if it cost you nothing" - Simone De Beauvoir. In discussing last week's quote, I illustrated how following "joy" as a guide (even a necessary criteria) for what and how we give can enhance the experience dramatically. However, this philosophy of creating a certain quality of life through the act of giving can also apply beyond the "traditional" definition of what it means to "give."
Certainly we all have experienced the joy of giving to another, whether on some special occasion, or just an everyday nicety. We generally feel warmed by such an experience and the quality of our life is almost always enhanced. However, what if this quote by Winston Churchill isn't just about this "traditional" definition of giving? For example, have you noticed that normally when we think of the act of giving, it's almost about some "item" that we are giving to others? What about the concept that we can also enhance the quality of our life by giving something other than "things" to someone? In other words, is it possible that we can also influence the quality of the life we make by giving our time, consideration, and support? And is it further possible that we might be worthy of these gifts as well?
If our goal is to "make a life" and we have determined that "what we give" can enhance this experience, then maybe our ability to reach this goal might be improved by our willingness to see ourselves worthy of the "gifts" we give others and take steps to include ourselves on our "gift list." In fact, I'm going to suggest that this ability to give to ourselves can actually enhance the quality of the gifts we give to others. How? Well, it really has to do from giving from a sense of fulfillment rather than from a sense of obligation or lack.
When we are feeling empty and unfulfilled, this often effects what we can or are willing to give, especially when the gifts are those personal gifts of time, love and support. When, however, we are willing to give to ourselves first, we then are able to give to others from this more fulfilled perspective. This will almost always have a positive effect on the quality of our gift to others.
It's as I have described in my first book "All Stressed Up & Nowhere To Go!" When we see ourselves as a pitcher of water, always giving away our time, energy, consideration to others, but never giving to ourselves, we will eventually feel drained, depleted and employ. The alternative is to see ourselves instead, as a wellspring. If we take care of ourselves, giving ourselves the same love and support we give to others, this wellspring will fill us up first, and then spill over to those around us. They will still get our gifts, however they will now receive them from a fulfilled person. When we do that, the quality of our giving and the quality of our living will go up.
Certainly we all have experienced the joy of giving to another, whether on some special occasion, or just an everyday nicety. We generally feel warmed by such an experience and the quality of our life is almost always enhanced. However, what if this quote by Winston Churchill isn't just about this "traditional" definition of giving? For example, have you noticed that normally when we think of the act of giving, it's almost about some "item" that we are giving to others? What about the concept that we can also enhance the quality of our life by giving something other than "things" to someone? In other words, is it possible that we can also influence the quality of the life we make by giving our time, consideration, and support? And is it further possible that we might be worthy of these gifts as well?
If our goal is to "make a life" and we have determined that "what we give" can enhance this experience, then maybe our ability to reach this goal might be improved by our willingness to see ourselves worthy of the "gifts" we give others and take steps to include ourselves on our "gift list." In fact, I'm going to suggest that this ability to give to ourselves can actually enhance the quality of the gifts we give to others. How? Well, it really has to do from giving from a sense of fulfillment rather than from a sense of obligation or lack.
When we are feeling empty and unfulfilled, this often effects what we can or are willing to give, especially when the gifts are those personal gifts of time, love and support. When, however, we are willing to give to ourselves first, we then are able to give to others from this more fulfilled perspective. This will almost always have a positive effect on the quality of our gift to others.
It's as I have described in my first book "All Stressed Up & Nowhere To Go!" When we see ourselves as a pitcher of water, always giving away our time, energy, consideration to others, but never giving to ourselves, we will eventually feel drained, depleted and employ. The alternative is to see ourselves instead, as a wellspring. If we take care of ourselves, giving ourselves the same love and support we give to others, this wellspring will fill us up first, and then spill over to those around us. They will still get our gifts, however they will now receive them from a fulfilled person. When we do that, the quality of our giving and the quality of our living will go up.
Take care and God bless, Dr. Bill