One of life’s greatest gifts is the ability to give to another person. And when I say give – I mean give unconditionally, with no strings attached. Giving purely because you want to. This is the TRUE secret to living.

Think about the last time you gave a gift to another person. How did it make you feel? Did it deplete your energy and sap you of your resources, or did it energise you, give you pleasure and joy?

The simple joys of giving can be achieved in so many ways and comes in many different forms. Some include monetary or material gifts, some are just random acts of kindness. When was the last time you gave to another human being for no other reason that because you could?

On the flip side of the coin, you must also be able to receive. Many people feel uncomfortable accepting gifts from another person, yet think about the joy you are robbing that person of by refusing their gift.

I will never forget the moment when I learned the entirety of this lesson. I was having dinner with a friend/mentor of mine. He offered to pay for the meal and I felt I had got so much out of the evening there was no way I could accept more of his kindness. His response to my refusal went something like this:
“How dare you be so selfish to not allow me to enjoy the gift of paying for our meal.”

You must equally be able to receive. The two go hand in hand. And ironically, the more you unconditionally give, you may just find the more you will unconditionally receive. What a wonderful world we live in.