Merry Christmas! What’s better: Giving or Getting?

#TrueTalkTuesdays 20

“Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.”

Ben Carson

Merry Christmas!

I hope you woke up to receive a lot of love and happiness, and were able to give that back too.

I will keep this one short and sweet, as you have more important things to do on Christmas morning than read a post from me, lol.

Getting is easy: you just reach out and accept whatever is given to you. In life, getting is a special treat, as most things have to be fought over and earned over hours of hard labor. When someone just gives you something to show their love and appreciation for you, it is special.

But if all you did was wait to get things, you would be left wanting more. One of the keys to happiness in life is being a giver. Someone who gives freely with love in their heart gets something powerful back: love, trust, and respect – the pillars of a solid relationship.

If there is something I have learned in my life, it is the power of relationships. I’m not just talking about your significant other. I’m talking about family, friends, coworkers, business partners, and pretty much everyone you interact with.

The more relationships you have, the more access you have to what the world has to offer. It’s through relationships that we share. Whether that is emotions, knowledge, experience, food, tools, or opportunities. Each relationship offers something different to share, so the more that you have, the more you get to share.

Being in a good relationship creates a win/win situation – where both parties gain something they couldn’t get on their own. That is where giving comes in. If you are just someone that takes and never gives, chances are people will be less likely to participate in that relationship for long.

And if you are just participating in a relationship to get something for yourself, it also doesn’t have the same benefit. That’s like kissing up to your boss you hate because you want a raise. Sometimes that works, but often times people can sniff out a brown noser as someone who is not genuine. It creates distrust, as you are not truly invested in the relationship.

The goal is to want the best for your partners. If you realize we are all in the same team, you will find out that when they win, you win too. In the martial arts, this is an important concept to pick up. The student / teacher relationship is one where the teacher gives much to his or her students. Not just knowledge, and experience, but a piece of their soul. And when you see someone you helped go on to prosper and do great things, that is truly a reward in itself.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree?

Comment with your take on this. And if you like this article, please do me a solid and share it with your friends. Thanks!