Rediscovering Generosity
Generosity is a character trait I deeply admire. I saw it beautifully demonstrated by my parents, and it became a core value instilled in me by their example. I have found, though, generosity is often misunderstood. It goes far beyond just giving things away. True generosity goes well beyond that.
In his book, The Generosity Habit, Matthew Kelly explains that generosity is more than we think and yet quite simple. When we make it a habit, it becomes instinctive in everything we do and within every one of our interactions. Even those with ourselves.
It begins with giving something away every day. And no, that doesn't mean money or things. In fact, those are the least among the actions that demonstrate generosity. Some of the most generous people I know are teachers willing to share their knowledge. That goes beyond any price.
Here are just some of the aspects of generosity Mr. Kelly shares in his book:
It brings out the best in people.
It's contagious.
It looks good on you.
It makes you feel even better.
Everyone can benefit from it.
It is proactive.
It is spiritual.
It's magical.
It's intentional.
It's healthy.
It's unifying.
As I thought about it, generosity reminded me of an observation shared by author David Brooks. He offered the insight that successful people share two fundamental beliefs. The first is the future can be better than the present. The second is that they have the power to make it so.
I think we can all agree our future can be better than our present. Mr. Kelly believes rediscovering generosity can bring that possibility to life. I believe he's right.
In fact, going back to Mr. Brooks' words, the best part of generosity might be how much it demonstrates hope for the future. It reminds us that the past can be healed, the present can be made easier, and the future brighter.
And remarkably, we have the power to make it so.
You may want to check out Matthew Kelley's book and discover the 101 ways he suggests as places to begin.
Don't just love, astonish people with your love. Don't just dabble in generosity, live a life of staggering generosity. ~ Matthew Kelly, The Generosity Habit
