I used to have a skewed idea of generosity.  I thought being generous had to do with things material.  I thought I was generous if I was a big giver.  As I became more in tune with myself through meditation and prayer, and as a result of my practice of nonviolence and compassion, I discovered that I wasn’t always giving from a place of true generosity, but instead from a place of lack within my own self.

I was giving to get a sense of self-worth.  I was giving to get validation.

When I got still with myself, I found that sometimes I was giving out of a need for reassurance that I was a good person.  I had a need to be liked, admired and appreciated.  I discovered that since my need to be seen or felt was often a motivator for my giving, I wasn’t genuinely being generous at all.   

I sought approval as much as I desired to share my gifts and talents.  I thought that through giving I could get people’s good opinion of me.  Giving to get is the way of commerce, it’s the way of the world.  I started to see that it was my way of living, and often my reason for giving, especially in my relationships.

I feel so grateful to have learned that true generosity comes from the Spirit.  It comes from the heart and never the head.  It’s the way of the Divine.  True generosity is never a calculated expression that has to do with keeping score or getting something in return.  Once I learned this, I began to see that when I am generous of my heart and my energy then I’m giving what people really like to receive most.

Even people who feel destitute and seem to need money badly still can appreciate love, patience, recognition and encouragement FAR more than they do money.  The destitute can tell us that the heart can die of starvation while the body continues.

“… to rejoice greatly in the good of others, to love with such generosity of heart that your love is still a dear possession in absence or unkindness – these are the gifts which money cannot buy,”  says Robert Louis Stevenson. 

Money cannot buy these gifts because they come through from Spirit.  We are all given to so freely by Spirit, that Higher Holy Spirit Self that is our true nature.  It is my pleasure and joy, my imperative to let Spirit’s gifts flow through my life freely.

My soul yearns to be generous with Divine Love.

My heart thrives when I’m giving away God’s love through my ability to be patient and caring.  I feel all is well with the world and myself when I’m extending kindness and encouragement generously.  It is my pleasure to be appreciative and grateful.  I’ve learned that my experience of generosity begins first with loving myself generously.

We represent the overflow of Love in this world.  We are God’s gift to each other.

I’d like to be able to always give from the overflow of love that the Infinite Beloved is always pouring through me and to me.

My generosity is increased by my setting the intention that everyone who gives to me will have the same energy of love and generosity returned to them magnified and multiplied.  I am generous with Divine Love because the Divine is generous with me.  In this way I powerfully contribute to a global experience of more peace, more love, more joy.  In this way, I live my holy purpose to be truly helpful.

If you feel as though you’ve been playing small, but would like to share your gifts and talents you may be interested in some of the professional trainings I’m offering. If you have self-doubt you’d like to transform so that you can share from Spirit and inspire others check out what we’re up to. These trainings are open to anyone – feel free to join us!

This weekend we have our Create and Lead Workshops with Rev. Karen Russo – both are open to anyone, and many people like to combine them for maximum transformation.

If you’d like to learn more, click here. This trainings is for anyone who’d like to feel more comfortable speaking in front of others, present a topic or a workshop with confidence, or just develop a workshop.