The Generosity Challenge
Understanding the dynamics of voluntary giving
“Have you ever noticed that generous people are never in need?” said a friend to me one day. I didn’t know what to say because it never occured to me. I immediately had to think about the people I knew who I considered to be generous. While their lives may not always have been easy, things always seem to fall into place for them.
I immediately started to consider the implications of such an observation. If generosity leads to a sense of security, or even abundance, would the opposite also be true: keeping things for yourself leads to fear of poverty or experiencing scarcity? And when do you start becoming generous? I mean, is it responsible to be generous when you can’t make ends meet? Is generosity only for materially rich people? Also, is there such a thing as becoming too generous? And, if generosity is so profound, why am I not more generous?
Generosity challenge
Some months ago, my wife and I decided to put things to the test: we resolved to give something away every day for “a few days”. It didn’t have to be a big or expensive thing. But at least something material that we could hand over to another person. So, a smile, a kind gesture, or encouraging words did not count. Every day, we had to search for something to give away.
And so the generosity challenge was born.
We started to look through our things to see what others may appreciate. Or we specifically bought presents for others. As the days passed, we became increasingly more creative and resourceful. For example, we paid for the few groceries for the person behind us in the queue at the supermarket. Or we transferred money to a good cause. Some friends over the world started to join and we started to give each other things. It became great fun.
It almost became an obsession when the day almost ended and we hadn’t given away anything. To give required us to meet people and to visit them. In this way, we met friends and neighbours who we hadn’t seen for a long time.
Effects of generosity
Practicing generosity during those days made me happy. It helped me to break through a shell of self-centredness. It is like feeling lazy to get out the house to start jogging, but as soon as you are running you feel grateful and alive. Voluntary giving reminds me what it means to be a human being and it forces me to do what my spirit would love me to do.
The act of giving also has a powerful effect on the person receiving it. When I meet a generous person, I tend to like him or her quicker. Prejudices that I had towards this person seem to vanish. I am quite willing to help him or her out when needed. In a way, the act of giving brings us closer together. It serves as a powerful force in creating trust between people.
Generosity attracts generosity
Whereas my personal wealth may be (temporarily) diminishing when I give things away, being generous strengthens a sense of collective wealth between people that is far greater than standing alone. It is like the ecosystem of an entire forest compared to the life of one single tree.
I learnt that generosity is a quality to develop bit by bit. The more you practice generosity, the more you are able to give. It is like being a fountain that is constantly giving water that keeps on coming from an invisible source. The Generosity Challenge helped me to experience this different reality.
Of course, being generous embraces more than just giving material things. One can be generous in one’s time or sharing one’s knowledge or resources.
Sharing your experiences
Our first generosity challenge was set for 9 days, but only lasted 5 days. The second one continued for over a month! Giving voluntary, like exercising, requires discipline and daily effort. And it helps if we have friends that support each other in this challenge.
Anyone wishing to join The Generosity Challenge? Try it for 9 days, alone or with others, and let us know how it is going!
The important thing is to start.
