This is a great first question to ask when thinking about generosity.
As you think about the most generous thing someone has ever done for you, take note of how you feel inside. Maybe a warm fuzzy feeling? Maybe you can’t help but smile or even hold back tears?
Those feelings are evidence of a motto from our pastor that we love:
Generosity generates goodness.
There’s also a concept of reciprocity that generates goodness. When someone is generous to you, a sense of obligation to also be generous is often generated within you. That’s a good thing! As the scripture says:
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews 10:24-25
Now, another great question to ask is to think of a time when you were the one being generous. Think about a time, then take a moment to think about how it made you feel.
Did you feel great?
Did you feel fabulous?
If that’s the case, why aren’t you being generous more often?
There are many traps that keep us from being generous.
- “Let me know” is a phrase I’d love to have end. When someone is in a tough spot, we tell them to let us know how we can help. We’ve all done it, we’d all rather do something more it’s just hard.
- The solution is to “Do unto others.” Think about what you’d want done in the exact same situation, reversed. Then just do it. Don’t ask for permission. Just do it.
- We also get paralyzed from being generous because we think whatever gesture it is needs to be big, be bold or be perfect. So, because we can’t do something big, we do nothing.
- The solution is to do for one what you would do for many. Likewise, give a little (time, words, energy, money) until you can give a lot.
- Unwillingness to ask for or accept help
- This is a societal problem. We’re all so used to trudging along and doing it all ourselves that we don’t give others the opportunity to bless us. And we’ve already gone through how amazing it feels to get & give generously, so why are we doing it?
So, let’s change the game. Let’s be aggressively generous and start generating goodness all around our communities! You can be generous with your time, your words and your money.
So, what’s it going to be today? How can you be generous today?
Ideal Balance is The Life Coaching Facility in Navarre, Florida that focuses on Fitness, Family & Finance. We help our clients create the discipline & habits they need to strip off what’s holding them back from living the life God created them to live. We work with clients in 1-on-1 sessions in person and virtually as well as in Small Groups in Personal Training sessions, workshops and other events. We’re on a mission to inject hope and empower our community one client at a time. Contact us if you’d like to find out more.
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