Giving Something to Everyone You Meet

I have long since believed that giving is the crux of inviting good things into your own life.

Many religions the world over have this as a core principle.

In the Christian religion, too: tithing (giving 10% of your income) to the church is done in good faith that this gift will set the stage for receiving help/gifts when you need them, but also to help others in a true act of good will.

The Law of Giving and Receiving

Deepak Chopra talks about the Spiritual Law of Giving and Receiving, too. Because the universe is a dynamically changing place, it would also hold that giving and receiving keep your life flowing in a positive direction.

It’s not a new concept and one that can help unlock abundance in our own lives. Giving “just to give” is a noble act. Not expecting anything in return is a deeply spiritual reason to spread goodwill and cheer and help to make the world a better place.

It can also help in the “gratefulness” department by allowing us to be thankful for what we have and thankful for the gifts that we receive.

[bctt tweet=”It makes us feel good to give. But really, we also receive joy, in turn, because of the act of giving.” username=”n2itvnspiritual”]

Make me an instrument of your peace

The prayer, “Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace,” (associated with St. Francis, but there is evidence this was written by a French priest in 1912) beautifully illustrates giving and receiving. Take a look at a few lines:

  • Where there is hatred, let me sow love
  • Where there is injury, pardon
  • Where there is despair, hope
  • For it is in giving that we receive

I have begun a practice in my life of giving something to everyone I encounter – whether they know it or not. And I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not perfect at it. I occasionally have those days when I “just don’t feel like it.”

I’ll personally work on that. Because, honestly, I’ve realized that when I don’t feel like giving is exactly when I need to do it the most.

Ideas for Giving Something to Everyone You Meet

The following are some ideas on how to always give something to someone you meet:

  1. Give a greeting
  2. Give a smile
  3. Give a hug
  4. Give a silent blessing
  5. Silently say, “om mani padme hum” – a chant that Buddhist monks say to spread love and compassion
  6. Give love
  7. Give hope
  8. Give a pardon
  9. Give a flower
  10. Give a complement
  11. Give an “out loud” blessing if you know the person would like that
  12. Give an uplifting note
  13. Give a card
  14. Give gratitude
  15. Give a gift
  16. Give a text of “thinking of you”
  17. Give a healing thought
  18. Give a plant
  19. Give a prayer
  20. Give a monetary gift
  21. Give help
  22. Give of your time
  23. Give of your heart
  24. Give joy
  25. Give laughter
  26. Give information
  27. Give a mint
  28. Give encouragement
  29. Give a helping hand
  30. Give something edible

A giving philosophy

I had decided a couple years ago to adopt this philosophy. I was going through my own rough patch in life and wanted to be that person that lifted others up with I encountered them rather than being negative or a complainer.

And though I don’t always succeed in this task, my life has changed dramatically since those first years when I started this practice: I finished graduate school, I moved, found a good job, and my relationships have improved (well, the majority of them, anyways).

So, what will you do? Adopt a practice of giving to others?

In giving, you start to receive

Remember that by giving, you will also start to receive. The art of receiving is also something that has to be learned. And, to be sure, we can’t just give so that we’ll automatically receive. It doesn’t work that way.

Give to make a difference and to make the world a better place. You create the conditions to become ready to receive. When you receive, you can do a number of things with those gifts:  you can pass them on, use them as you need, use them to magnify their awesomeness, improve your practice of gratitude, and much more.