I can attest first-hand to being a classic caregiver and it’s practically second nature for me to give but, here’s the catch! When we think of giving, it’s often a natural instinct to think of others (friends, family, loved ones) and what we give them; whether that’s on a special occasion or we feel they deserve it.
Let me ask you this: Can you recall a time in your life when you dropped pennies into less fortunate hands or when you made a donation higher than the usual price of a brownie slice at a bake sale to raise money for a good cause? Whether your answer is a “Yes or a No”, I now need you to recall a time when you gave something to yourself wholeheartedly. Was it your last birthday or can you not even remember at all? And nope, I don’t mean money or “I bought myself a nice jumper”. I mean, “I gave myself a good ole talk about learning to be patient with myself” or “I am going to make a gratitude list to celebrate just how far I’ve come on my journey”.
Whilst this isn’t a very common practice in our day to day lives, you must also learn to give willingly to yourself and not neglect this aspect as it actually has a big impact on how we view ourselves. There is no need to feel guilty or uncomfortable and I know first hand, how BRILLIANT I am at being of help to others and not so much, to myself. But on this journey, I have learnt new ways in how best to fulfil my needs and create a balance and I hope this can help you too. a) You can start by practicing affirmations e.g. “I am worthy”, “I am enough” or one of my personal favourites, “I am strong enough to move mountains and overcome any obstacles inside or out, and my gamble will pay off as my destiny will meet synchronicity. I am abundant and wealthy and I expect miracles as the Universe’ creative ideas flow through me”. You may replace the Universe with your God or your Guardian angels, that’s up to you. I tend to write this and other affirmations on sticky notes and place it next to my mirror or on a wall in my room. After a while it becomes a habit and it just rolls off your tongue but you can do this with a set of affirmations until you can rhyme them. When I give myself these words, I also receive them with no judgement or criticism and this is a helpful way to receive the gift of affirmations you give to yourself.
b) There’s no right or wrong: If a massage or going for a walk out in nature is a way to give to yourself, whether that’s peace of mind or time to just chill, then do it! Do what makes you feel great like the way you do for others.
Talking about others, I believe we all have it in us to give but I must stress that when you give it should come from a place of love or with your heart rather than from the ego. In another blog post, I will write about the Ego and why I made this statement. That said, the gift you give to others doesn’t have to be of monetary value, it can literally be anything from clothing or hugs to a compliment you give someone. Trust me, this goes a long way.
To give to people, we can as a collective:
- Set a day aside for example, “Monday” and make that your awareness day: You can say to yourself that if you see someone wearing something you like, or doing something good today, you’ll give them a worthy compliment. I remember personally feeling slightly down one morning on my way to work and a complete stranger said they liked my hair and it felt good. Somehow, I suddenly felt a confidence boost and it definitely cheered me up, not that I was after a compliment, but more because it was nice for someone to notice, you know? My point is, it doesn’t matter how insignificant something may seem to you for it can mean so much more to another. Giving your time to help a colleague who is struggling with work or lending a shoulder to cry on for a friend are other amazing ways you can incorporate into your awareness day.
- Clearing for the saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”: if you have clothing or furniture that you no longer need, you can give this to someone else or send it to a charity shop. I’m certain there are some within a 10 -20 mile radius from your house, and sometimes these charities might even do pickups from your home. Let’s be honest when you get rid of clothes,someway you walk into your room and it just feels so much cleaner and spacious. (Jokes, don’t be)
The overall message of this blog today is that we can all aspire to make a healthy difference in the lives of others as this in itself, is satisfying and invites more abundance into your life. That being said, we must also be mindful and learn to give to ourselves too. You will be surprised by the feeling of satisfaction that comes with this on an emotional level.
All the same, give with all your heart and receive graciously and with gratitude. It makes sense that I’d want to now show you how to also receive graciously, doesn’t it? Stay tuned for the next blog post — I promise to make it a worthwhile #itsamidaexperience. Thank you for reading.Love & LightAmida
