Every day I’ve committed to one moment of all-out service from my abundance… and it’s changing everything.
I’ve heard brilliant people talk about the importance of giving from your abundance like that one word was the key to life fulfillment, but until I heard one man speak I’d never really felt the meaning of that word in my bones. I thought abundance meant money, and so that meant I was off the hook until I could make excess cash (somehow).
Then I heard Priceline founder Jeff Hoffman speak at a conference about his world tour of mentorship, and a bell went off: It’s my responsibility to give what I have. I can’t not give.
Well I may not have much money right now, but I have a lot to give until I do. That feels abundant. Every day since his speech I’ve committed to one moment of all-out service from my abundance… and it’s changing everything. Amazingly, it’s also improved my business potential. Without prompting, people are offering to pay me for my help.
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If you’ve ever felt stuck, I recommend this practice I call Reverse-Earl (like from My Name is Earl). At night, before you go to bed, write down the name of one person you helped during the previous day. This practice will train you to pay attention during your day for opportunities to help someone. Isn’t that the point of life?
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What happened since I started doing this? I started paying attention to the people around me, helping wherever I could. One day it was connecting a friend with a potential mentor. One day it was doing pro bono work for a nonprofit school. One day it was being there for a friend who needed a chance to vent frustration without judgment. It was easy, it was fun, and I found that the more I GAVE, the more I GOT in return. It was not the goal, but it happened nonetheless.
This all sounds so simple and elementary. Trust me, I knew it intellectually; but I had never felt it. Now I do, and I don’t ever want to stop. Try it, see if it works for you too.
Who is on your giving list today?
Photo by Flickr/Daveynin