Breathe Generosity

Breathing Generosity!

Generosity- is such a lovely word I like how it feels when I say it- it warm and round and rich and abundant like expensive velvet or the color deep red, or the frangrance of deep roses. The roots of the word generosity lie in nobility and high birth- I am using it to denote a nobility of spirit- that knows it is in the giving that life's true treasures lie.

What does a generosity based life look like? I imagine it to be the only real way to harvest the true treasures of living abundantly. I have been writing extensively about the practice of abundance, in what some would call a great recession. This practice I am invite you into is- to make generosity part of your every day life. Breathe Generosity now!

Breathing generosity means seeing the opportunity to have not just "win win experiences", but experiences where you think of others first. This may seem like an odd invitation- and yet in thinking about a great opportunity for another, you put out into the world an energy of generosity that is bound to be reflected back to you. The treasures of a generous life are rooted in the act of giving- as we give we find we have more to give- when that giving is from a noble place with in us.

There is a shadow of giving and generosity-- All too often coercive acts can be disguised as generosity- How do we know the difference in ourselves and others? I was on a website the other day- about to buy something that told me it was free- then I scrolled down and it said - please note if you sign up for this free download you will be also signing up for our newsletter priced at 14.95 per month. My body reacted- i felt a contraction and a "yuk' feeling like i had almost been duped. The reason for this- was that i was offered something generously for free- and then just about as i was to get my so called 'gift' i was told it came with a price. It was not actually a free generous gift. Needless to say they lost my trust and my $.

So this brings up another question right? Is anything ever really selfless? I mean even if i do something for you- i still have an agenda right? Even if that agenda is to feel good about myself? It is important that we have the ability to feel into our generous acts- because if they are motivated by emotions other than generosity- like for example, power, greed, fear, scarcity - then what we will actually attract back to ourselves will be those experiences.

Practice #1- Noble or Not? Think about a time when you have given with the express desire of getting back - maybe it was a gift that you gave so that you could get a gift back, maybe it was because you felt like you had to give other wise others would think badly of you. What ever it is - we all have examples of the shadow of generosity in our lives. Take a moment to really bring the memory into your mind- and let yourself feel in your body how you know you were not really being generous- but rather you were self serving.....do you notice your belly tighten? your throat? Let yourself pay attention to this internal guidance system that just knows something is off...this is your golden opportunity - to get yourself back into alignment.

Practice #2 - How to recognize generosity! When you give freely you not only feel better, but that giving is returned to you. There is research to suggest that we actually gain more in terms of happiness and fulfillment by giving than by receiving- now isn't that interesting that we are wired that way? Take a moment to think about it- why would supreme intelligence have desgined us so? So that we ultimately feel more rewarded on a brain chemical level when we see the happiness of another- this is a purely relational experience. When we give to another we experience a flood of good feeling hormones into our system that promote bonding, positive thoughts and happiness. So we can surmise that the more often we give, the more we will be rewarded with good feelings and the more we will be motivated to give!

Think about a time when you KNOW that gave just for the pure joy of the giving- bring this memory into your mind- now feel your body- what happening- i wonder if you are smiling- its almost automatic- one of the treasures of true generosity of spirit is a genuine smile.

Practice # 3 Breathe Generosity today in your business, your family, with your friends, with a stranger- allow your self to think about what you might give totally freely- its time to practice that bumper sticker "practice random acts of senseless kindness" only these acts are far from senseless they actuallly create powerful way for us to change our world both inside and out. Find your opportunity today to pracitce breathing generosity towards another and notice how you feel-

One comment I got from this practice!

"I had been struggling with feeling fearful and waking up in the morning worried about my business- its been shrinking and all i can think is that things are not getting any better- I have been feeling depressed - not like me. I don't normally read this kind of stuff- but I got this forwarded to me and I read it- So I tried it- I normally feel a little burdened about giving my kids rides places - its never ending. Today I decided to let it go and be free and generous- not a big thing I know- but the difference it made! I got to enjoy being with my kids and their friends, I got to feel better, like I was doing something, I actually felt good. And they thanked me--they never thank me! I mean never!!!"

Have a blessed and generous day. I truly wish for you success, fullfillment and joy!

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