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It is the heart that does the giving; the fingers only let go
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— Nigerian saying
Choosing “growing greatness” as a tagline for my business was intentional. But greatness can easily get distorted in our minds. Greatness sometimes seems synonymous with celebrity or fame, wealth or power. Greatness can become: great job, great car, great house, or great bank account.
Let me set the record straight. I want to you have all you need. I want you to be well and succeed. I want you to shine and soar. Yet greatness to me is not really about what you have or what you achieve: it’s what you give.
Interestingly, researchers have found that keeping our giving precise, narrow, focused on just one person rather than thousands or millions in need motivates us more. NPR reports on one great study, Why Your Brain Wants to Help One Child in Need But Not Millions , that illuminates why.
As a gentle reminder that greatness isn’t what you have but what you give, here are eight quotes from some of the world’s greatest givers, and a couple from little ol’ me (that I’m sure came from someone who gave me the ideas ).
Gentle reminders about your greatness.
Giving is the purpose of living . “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” ― Charles Dickens
Giving = Success. “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” ―Ralph Waldo Emerson
Move gratitude into your behavior: Give. “Gratitude begins in our hearts and then dovetails into behavior. It almost always makes you willing to be of service, which is where the joy resides. It means that you are willing to stop being such a jerk. When you are aware of all that has been given to you, in your lifetime and the past few days, it is hard not to be humbled, and pleased to give back.” – Anne Lamott, Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers
If you’ve had 2 nd , 3 rd & 4 th life chances: Give back. “I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.” ―Maya Angelou
Don’t wait: Give now. “If you wait until you can do everything for everybody, instead of something for somebody, you’ll end up not doing nothing for nobody.”–Malcom Bane
Giving doesn’t have to be grand to be great. “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”— Mother Teresa
Giving isn’t quid pro quo: Give anyway. “Blessed is he who expects no gratitude, for he shall not be disappointed.” ―W.C. Bennett
Gratefully accept gifts from others. “In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.” – Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love
Remember how it feels when someone believes in you? Belief in Others = Great Giving. “ Saying and showing that you believe in someone else is the greatest gift you can give.” –Jone Bosworth
Taking Care of YOU is the best gift for loved ones. “One of the most vital gifts you can give your loved ones is taking care of yourself, your health and well-being.” –Jone Bosworth
Keep growing your greatness: GIVE.
I’m so grateful that you give me your time, dear readers. Sharing what’s in my heart and mind each week is scary. I hope my inCourage Reflections blog gives you something to ponder, to practice, and to pass onto others. Sincerely, thank you!
#PeaceHugs, Jone
Featured greatness is giving image via http://quotes.galleryzip.com. Deepak Chopra’s The Law of Giving image via http://practical-personal-development-advice.com.
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