Just picture how many small gifts you could give every day.
Give a stranger a smile. It doesn’t matter if they smile back (remember, you’re giving, not trading).
Give another driver a break in traffic, especially when you don’t have to.
Compliment an acquaintance (or a stranger) and tell them they look great today.
It’s easy. It feels good. And best of all, it’s habit-forming!
If ‘getting’ is the key to your happiness, your key will open few doors. If ‘giving’ is your key to happiness, you will find few doors locked.
James Howe, 12/25/2009
Imagine 100’s of little successes every day.
If you simply begin to place a high personal value on giving, then every day you will find countless opportunities to enjoy big and small successes – at giving.
In fact, you really can’t fail at giving. Because in true giving, you expect nothing in return. (That would be trading, not giving.) And since in true giving you don’t expect anything (even thanks) from the recipient, the success of your giving doesn’t depend on the response you get. You receive personal value and happiness from the giving, itself.
If you do get a warm response… that’s just more happiness for you!
Why is “Thou Shalt Not Steal” (TSNS) a primary commandment in so many religions, including…
What causes “Thou Shalt Not Steal” to be right up there with “Thou Shalt Not Kill”?
Is it possible that they are two different ways of saying essentially the same thing?
As a Veresapiens, here’s how I see it…
Your life on this Earth is not infinite. You have one body and a limited amount of time to spend in it.
You may choose to spend some of your brief time on Earth creating something. In other words, you may trade some of your precious time for something else of value to you.
If a thief takes what you created, is he taking your life?
Yes.
It took your time to create your new possession. You spent time. That time is gone.
You gave up (some of) your life for that possession, so the thief took (some of) your life when he stole it.
Perhaps that is why Thou Shalt Not Steal (TSNS) is right up there with Thou Shalt Not Kill in all the major world religions.
follow: Tweet with me