Give and you Shall Receive
Nov 5th, 2007 by Rahul Bhambhani
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
- Winston Churchill
Are you the kind of person that loves to give something to each person you meet?
By “something” I don’t necessarily mean a material gift. You may give them a compliment, bless them with a prayer, or wish them well.
If so, then I’m assuming you’re someone who receives much of the same in return, and you’re living a life of true abundance.
Dynamic exchange
At all levels of life, we can observe the process of giving and receiving. It’s a dynamic exchange that must exist in order for life to perpetuate. Everything at the most basic level is engaged in giving and receiving. Energy is given, energy is received. When studying the human body we see such dynamic exchange in action once again. One type of cell may require the assistance of another type of cell in our body, and in turn will provide a different service back to the cell that just helped it out. This is a critical process, and without it, life would cease to exist.
If giving and receiving is such a fundamental part of life itself, then the same law must also apply to our interpersonal interaction. If we wish to receive, we must first give to others. The more we give, the more we will receive.
If you’re someone who doesn’t have the financial means to give a lot, don’t worry. Giving doesn’t require that you shower everyone you meet with material gifts; it just requires that you give from your heart with sincerity. The next time you go over to a friend’s house, or run into someone while walking down the street, pay him/her a sincere compliment, or if that’s too much, silently wish him/her well.
Before you begin to view giving as some sort of manipulative behavior, let me make one distinction. In order to reap the benefits of giving and receiving, you must enjoy the act of giving. If you give for the sake of receiving, that’s no good. You must take pleasure in the act of giving itself. Sincerity is the key in this dynamic exchange.
Giving creates abundance
Abundance begins with the proper mindset. When you give, what you’re telling your subconscious mind is, “I am experiencing abundance; so much so that I can give something to every single person I meet.” By communicating this to your subconscious mind, you silently transform into a new human being. Your thoughts, choices, and actions will be influenced by this new abundance mindset. It’s only a matter of time before you are attracting your deepest desires into your reality.
Nature abhors a vacuum. I’ve heard this phrase from many different self-development gurus, and I’m coming to understand what they mean by it. There’s no better way to communicate your faith in abundance to the universe than to give away that which you no longer need. Whenever you give away something, you make space for new things. Nature quickly fills up this gap with something bigger and better than you had before. Don’t believe me? Try emptying out your closet. It won’t be long before all of the clothes you gave away are replaced with new clothes you will enjoy and use for a long time.
By giving something to each person you meet, you are creating a significant amount of good karma in your life. The law of karma states that the action you take in each moment dictates your results in the future. If you’re constantly giving on a daily basis, you will constantly be receiving in the future.
How to receive properly
Remember, we’re talking about giving and receiving here. One cannot exist without the other. When you give, you must receive. If you wish to continue to receive, you must continue to give. When it’s your time to receive, receive with open arms. Accept the material gifts, prayers, and blessings people shower you with cheerfully and gratefully. Understand that you are receiving because you have been sincerely giving.
I know many people who give willingly, but have such a problem receiving. I think it’s because they’ve been programmed to believe that receiving is a bad thing. If you’re one of these people, realize that giving and receiving must go together. It’s a dynamic exchange, a flow if you will, where both parts must exist in order for the process to work. If you cut off either end of the process, then you begin to constrict the flow of good things into your life, and into the lives of others. Don’t let this happen. Choose to receive with open arms, and be grateful for everything that comes your way. By doing so, you keep the dynamic flow in motion.
Where you can begin
There are many places you can immediately put the law of giving into practice, the ideal starting place being your family. Think about how much your mother and father have given you over your lifetime. You have received many benefits, but how much have you given back? If you’ve been taking these blessings for granted, it’s time to make some drastic changes. Perhaps you can begin by learning how to express true gratitude, and in time you will be able to reciprocate all that you have received from your family.
Your friendships are another great place where you can begin to put the law of giving into action. By putting this law into action, over time you will enjoy much stronger relationships. If you haven’t done so already, read my article ‘Form Strong Relationships by Having More to Offer’. It goes in-depth with this topic.
Start right away
Make a conscious effort to give something to everyone and anyone you meet. It’s not what you give that’s important; it’s how you give it. You can give the person a flower, a compliment, or a blessing. These things don’t cost money, but they are significant as long as they are given from the heart. Remember, giving should always be an enjoyable experience. If you feel as though you’ve lost something in the process, then it’s not true giving.
If this article has made you aware of the fact that you’re not much of a giver, then you’ve got something to work on! Start giving right away, and get this powerful law working for you in your life. The more you give, the more you will receive. When it’s your turn to receive, choose to be grateful for everything coming your way, and accept it with open arms. By giving and receiving, you perpetuate the dynamic flow of good things into your life, and into the lives of everyone you come into contact with. The natural result is true abundance.
Cheers to that! 
Please leave a donation if you find this article helpful so you can enjoy the spirit of giving too.
This is a very helpful post. It’s making me think about a couple of things I could do that seem difficult. But if you see someone else writing about them it makes it a little bit easier to actually do.
David,
I’m glad you found this post helpful! Thank you for the comment.
Rahul
You put things wonderfully here. It is a flow of exchange, and one blends into the other. Also wrote something similar myself!
http://www.loving-awareness.org/2006/06/13/giving-receiving-and-the-flow-of-love/
[...] Bhambhani presents Give and you Shall Receive » Take-20.com posted at Personal Development Advice, Tools to Improve the Quality of your [...]
Thank you so much for the link back! I appreciate the mention.
may peace be with you,
I think this artical is a great reminder for all people to remember everyday of our lives that GOD has given to us. I remember a sticker
that said GOD GIVES AND FORGIVES, MAN GETS AND FORGETS! LET US give love,honor and repect so that we can recieve it in more ways than one for this is pleasing to the most high. may god help us all!
PEACE, MY BROTHER