The Importance of Sharing.
Meandering down life's path I
have noticed that virtually all spiritual teachings on abundance and
prosperity encourage sharing. It doesn't matter how much you have now,
the road to prosperity is to share what you do
have. It isn't necessary to enter a commune to pool all of your worldly
goods, or even to split 50/50. But a central theme is that if you act
and think poor or impoverished, then you will be poor and impoverished.
If you share willingly, through an open heart, your generosity will be
rewarded. In many modern spiritual teachings, it is interesting to note
that the concept of Intent is involved here. If you give expecting a
quid pro quo, you will likely be disappointed. If you give in
thankfulness and sharing, you will be rewarded many times over, though
not necessarily in the same manner of your gift
Conscious Giving.
Sharing willingly through an open heart implies being Fully Present in the moment while you are making that gift being involved in your giving. Automatic payroll deductions make giving easy, but distance the giver from the psychological benefits of giving. Giving with an open heart implies being present in the moment when you are making your gift, contemplating the purpose of the gift, and the benefit to be derived by the recipient. Automatic payroll deductions often becomes a once-a-year opportunity which may distance the donor from the gift. Ironically, programs which make it easier to give will often insulate the giver from the deeper, more spiritual aspects and benefits of the gift.
Yea! I've just won the lottery!
The news stories are full of examples of people who win large sums of money, and end up regretting ever winning. Those stories seem to have one thing in common...the winners concentrated on spending the money on themselves. Have you ever bought something you wanted for a long time, only to feel a short time later that it didn't really make you feel better? That happens because the Ego is involved.ii If you receive a windfall, Imagine how many people you can help, and how good it would feel, to invest at least as much in charitable acts and charitable giving as you plan on spending for yourself.
Maximizing the effect
One strategy for maximizing the
effect you can have is leveraging. Leveraging is using a small amount
of money to influence larger amounts. One way to do that is
by matched donations. Some employers will match donations made
by employees to local charities but you don't have to be an employer to
match donations. Contact a local charity you would like to help, and
offer to match donations made in the next fund drive. This is often
done for public radio or public TV fund raising, where a local business
will offer to match any funds raised in a certain time period. This
encourages donors to feel like their money will go twice as far,
because the recipient receives twice what you donate.
Specific Project
Find out what one big project
could be done with a specific amount of money, and fund that project,
or offer to match funds raised for that project. Charities often have
great ideas for projects or services, but lack the one time funding
needed to get it moving. A one time donation to build a guest house at
a local hospital, for use by families of out of town patients, can
affect many peoples lives. It is a gift that pays dividends every time
someone is able to stay near a loved one in the hospital, for many
years to come.
Seed Money
Sometimes it just takes a little money to get things started. In Leyland, Mississippi, one donor purchased a tract of land and donated it to a local Habitat for Humanity chapter. By building houses on the lots, and selling those houses (at cost) to program participants, the local Habitat chapter is funding additional building. So the affect of the original donation is growing.