I wrote in the last article that guiding anyone, including yourself with the positive statement is the fastest way to misery… Positive statements, including affirmations, don’t define anything.
The expression “strait and narrow” is brilliant, because it tells it how it is: the strait, as in the Bering Strait… is the key: everything that is NOT land is the strait… the land defines the strait, nothing inside the strait defines it… only its boundary. Same with a river. And same with generosity.
Giving is NOT generous, giving is giving.
In fact, giving can be the most ungenerous thing ever… because mostly giving is a sneaky way to rob the other of their power, of their light.
I can detect that kind of giving from a mile, and refuse to receive, or when I am generous, for some weird reason, I allow the person to give and allow their light to shine bright.
And sometimes someone gives me, and I weep, because their generosity is so obvious, not in the giving, but in the desire for the gift to be accepted, validated, honored. This is rare. And it is the gift. Allowing me the power to allow their light to shine.
I spent two years distinguishing all the ways generosity isn’t generous… and it was painful to see how ungenerous I was.
I also saw that not using what someone gave you, someone taught you, is probably the worst way to be ungenerous. I am often on the receiving end of praise and adulation by people who trash what I have given them.
So having to say thank you is more often than not, the sign of “land”, the sign of throwing sand in the giver’s eyes, to cover up that you are unwilling for their light to shine.
I had two of these today, the one I published, the other: I am contemplating if I should publish it. The guy gave himself to me. I don’t know how… but I ended up being more when it was over than I was before… And then he thanked me.
In the meantime I am weeping. Not sadness. No, I am moved.
When someone’s light shines, we all get a lot more light. It takes courage, and it takes a big heart.
Now, did this article distinguish the boundaries of generosity? The land surrounding, defining the strait?
Maybe.
Can you help with this? Giving me examples of the land surrounding the strait called “generosity?”
One comes to mind: Christmas giving. Travel gift giving.
The other day Sarah, my shopping companion, gave me a ride to pick up the groceries I paid for but forgot to take… (lol). When we got home, she was beaming. She was the giver, and SHE was beaming… I had never seen her light shine so bright.
Please help map out the strait called generosity. It may make a global difference this Christmas… transforming this commercialized opportunity for generosity to opportunity to allow others to shine their light.
And what it will take, from you, is generosity…
Read the original article: The most generous thing you can ever do…