Do this one thing to get more of what you want
Something I haven’t mentioned on here is my journey towards financial intelligence. I don’t write about finances here because this has never been that kind of blog, but I do believe financial wellness to be a crucial part of happiness. It’s hard to be happy and healthy and present if you’re in debt, or worrying how you’ll pay this month’s bills. I’ve been reading books, listening to podcasts, and watching YouTube videos to improve and enhance my financial intelligence. Interestingly, so many of the concepts for business/finance are also applicable to other aspects of life. I just finished reading Rich Dad Poor Dad and I highly recommend the read if you’re looking for a financial paradigm shift. One of the points that stood out to me was about giving whatever it is you’re wanting to receive.
“In my life, over all these years, whenever I have felt needy or short of money or short of help, I simply went out or found in my heart what I wanted, and decided to give it first. And when I gave, it always came back. It reminds me of the story of a guy sitting with firewood in his arms on a cold freezing night, and he is yelling at the pot-bellied stove, ‘when you give me some heat, then I’ll put some wood in’ ” (pg. 184)
Too often, we end up being that guy yelling at the pot-bellied stove, and I know from personal experience, it’s easy to focus on what we don’t have, or what we’re currently wanting. The problem is, this places you in a stance of deficit. Taking, and wanting comes from a place of deficit. Giving, comes from a place of abundance. When you give, you are forced to change your mindset, and to get off subject from the wanting. From a law of attraction standpoint, you align with abundance rather than deficit, thus increasing your chances of receiving. From a neuropsychology standpoint, giving activates the pleasure centers of the brain even more than receiving does, so you are likely to get yourself out of a negative emotional state when you give. Giving is similar to gratitude as in gratitude also comes from a place of abundance and of recognition of what we do have.
I’m not talking about giving to the point of placing yourself in debt, I’m simply talking about giving what you can. You might give of your time, kindness, compassion, support, encouragement, or of money. Even donating $20 to your local animal shelter or spiritual community makes a difference. Deciding to shop locally to give your money to a small business owner vs a big box retailer can have the same effect as long as the intention is there. The main ingredients are the intention of giving, and the mindfulness to the feeling and spirit of giving. According to karma, you can’t give in order to receive, this negates any good karmic energy you might have accrued from the act. Just give. When all else fails and you find yourself focusing on what you don’t have, give. Give gratitude. Give kindness. Give compassion. These can never fail you.