Monday, May 3, 2021
Giving to others has to reflect how you feel about yourself. If you have no compassion for yourself, nor do you have loving and generous impulses for yourself – doing and giving for others will not feel honest. You’ll be reflecting a disingenuous act of generosity. You’ll be giving, only because you feel guilty, and that’s not sustainable.
True generosity cannot come from a person who hates themselves or disrespects who they are. Our impulse to provide help and good in the world, must begin from within. Self-deprecation and self-deprivation are not acts of generosity, they are acts of harm. Remember, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, not more than ourselves. If your time allows, spend quality time alone. Dress up, go out by yourself – splurge on a meal. Take yourself to the beach and watch the sunset. Treat yourself to that expensive spa day, and buy those designer drapes, if your budget allows. Don’t go into debt – that’s self harm. Do what you can afford, but be generous. Use the good, expensive balsamic vinegar – don’t keep it for “company.” Remember, you are company to yourself, so roll out the red carpet every day. Over time, you’ll begin to see that you have enough to share with others. You’ll have more than enough to share with others, if you care for yourself tenderly and generously.
Self-love is the ultimate act of generosity, and it’s how you can help the world. It’s what allows you to reflect back your true self, and that’s what people need – they need to know themselves, and to stop mistreating themselves. If you take loving action, you use loving words, and you think positive thoughts about YOURSELF, and let them germinate internally, then your external generosity will begin to flow into the world. The true impulses of generosity germinate with internal, self-love and respect. Over time those impulses will naturally billow out and blossom into honest, and real generosity for others.