The Abundance of Giving

We all have special skills that we can share with others.  The act of giving extends beyond money and material goods.   Gratitude is an interactive spiral between a giver and a receiver. It recognizes that a gift has been given. It recognizes a favor done by someone for us.

Wayne Dyer states, "Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into." Having an attitude of abundance is about knowing that we are enough and we have enough, besides what society tries to tell us.  It relates to the concept of overflowing fullness.  But with having enough comes some responsibility.  Have you heard the wise phrase, “To whom much is given, much is required?” 
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I see a world of abundant opportunity and chances to make a difference. We can generate an abundance of love, peace, health, kindness, compassion, enthusiasm, nutrition, and other delights.  When we teach others, we are providing a valuable service. Since so much has been given to me, I gladly continue to teach for donations and share my stories here for free so that you can hopefully relate and benefit as well.  I hope that I am living up to my purpose and requirement as I continue to seek a peaceful balance and share that with the world.

​Photo Credit: http://julianapark.com/the-abundance-loop/

Another definition of abundance means we have enough of a resource not to be troubled by it. As I mentioned in the previous blog, excess is the state of surpassing or going beyond limits of necessity and into extravagance. If we cut down from excess, we will eventually end up with abundance. Along these lines of abundance is the yoga concept of non-hoarding, Aparigraha, which means to take only what is necessary, neutralizing the desire to acquire and hoard wealth.

What keeps us from giving freely?

Excess violates the universal principle of Abundance. According to Hippocrates, "Everything in excess is opposed to nature."

Clinging to large amounts of material and monetary goods is called greed (desire to acquire or possess more than one needs).

This should probably be the goal of the human race: how to distribute resources so that they are abundant for every person on the planet. Grateful people are more likely to sacrifice individual gains (ego) for communal profit (spiritual community).

But in aiming for abundance, we have at several places erred on the side of excess.  Excess leads to waste, Abundance leaves more than enough… for everyone.

Let’s tap into this abundance through the yoga philosophy guideline for universal morality, Ahimsa, compassion for all living things.

JP Sears addresses the modern concept of Abundance as some believe it is the same as excess.

Do you believe that you are going to be a millionaire and get everything that you want?  Why do you want? If you need a bunch of extra things, that is not abundance mentality. You already have what you need.

Ask yourself, what part of me wants this? Why does this part of me want this? The ego speaks from a inner sense of inadequacy. It believes that more is always better, yet more is never enough. Would you rather live by the surrender of the soul or the control of the ego? 
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​When our ego starts speaking up, remind yourself, I am whole and complete the way I am! The ego looks outside, our soul looks inside. Let’s dip our toes into the surrender and become curious about finding the wholeness within.  

On my visit to Monaco in 2013, I reflected on the concepts of abundance and excess.

I read that Monaco has the world's lowest poverty rate and remains virtually crime free. This sounds like the ideal place. I would like to believe that the low poverty comes from the community sharing with one another. As I mentioned in the previous blog, this country is made up of 30% millionaires. However, the wealth of this country is based on tourism, mostly from the world famous casino, Monte Carlo.  The casino makes money on the concept of chance.  Foreigners believe that they can multiply their income, so they manifest excess, as they take a trip to Monte Carlo. When they lose, the money goes to the state of Monaco. In the late nineteenth century, the casino was making such a vast sum of money that the principality could afford to end tax collection from its people.  This attracted the wealthiest from all over Europe to reside here.

In fact, there is one police officer for every 68 people, which means that Monaco has the largest police force and police presence in the world in terms of area and total amount of people. Every public space is shielded with cameras, and any kind of disorder produces an immediate reaction of many police officers. So, if there is no poverty in this land surrounded by natural beauty, why would this country even need police? The wealthy people are afraid of theft. They want to hoard their money. They don’t want to share their resources with anyone else.  

People who live in real abundance are motivated by their dreams, purpose and passion, and are not interested in hoarding money. Living in abundance means we're inspired to share what we have with others.  What we have to share might be friendship, knowledge, lessons learned, expertise, and whatever it is... we see the value in sharing and we feel compelled to do so. 

Do you hoard your money and skills, or do you spend them, giving back to humanity? Are you using everything that you have? What’s happening to the extra? How do you spend your excess? Please comment in the comments section below.

​In the book, The Abundance, Annie Dillard explains that we are not living as we should. We are abundant in time, but only as long as we are still living.  She asks us to ponder this vital question, “How do you spend your life? How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.” If you were given $100,000 every morning, and then whatever amount you didn’t use was taken back at the end of the night, how would you spend it every day? She urges us to “spend the afternoon.  You can’t take it with you.”
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What does it mean to spend? Spend means to allow time to pass in a particular place or while doing a particular activity, or to use up energy to do something. In terms of money, to spend means to let go of; to disperse. It is the opposite of keep.

Time is precious, and some of us will come to realize when it’s too late. It's easy to get caught up in our day-to-day routine. Sometimes it's even difficult to find time to do the things we enjoy. Dillard urges,“Take every day and take every moment and make something of it. Make something positive.” In the same way, Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love and Big Magic admits, “If I am not actively creating something, I find myself actively destroying something.”  In this world, we have an abundance of natural beauty. Spend time finding, noticing and appreciating it.

After consuming the ridiculous ice cream sundae, in Monaco, I remembered what I read in a guidebook about some lovely hidden coves nearby.  Following the coastline, Colleen and I walked for a couple of hours.  This scenery was breathtaking.  Craftsman houses and crashing waves lined the path along the enchanting Riviera.  An artist’s paradise, I was so pleased at the array of colors, shapes, movement, proportions, lightening, textures, and forms that came and left my peripheral vision.  Moving steadily along, I couldn’t wish for anything else. 

​Then, tucked back and down behind the main bluffs of suburbs, we encountered Mala Beach, Cap d'Ail's best beach and one of the most stunning on the Riviera. This vivid stretch of white sand and pebbles has the fertile Cap Mala on the eastern end and steeply rising cliffs on the western side. Relaxing in this semicircle of Mediterranean greenery and gazing out over the rippling translucent water is the Cote d'Azur at its best. My heart was filled with abundance, a deep gratitude and love for nature, the Universe’s gift to my eyes. Although I have seen many beautiful places in my years, this place has made a solid marking on my memory. This experience was time well spent!

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I choose to spend my time and my life with curiosity and joy, exploring the natural beauty in the world and sharing my learnings of yoga philosophy with those who can relate. Travel experiences offer a special first-hand learning experience.  I spend my money and time on this purpose.

How will you spend your time and resources?

How will you give back to humanity?
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To whom much is given, much is required.