Going From What I Can Get To What I Can Give ‒ Developing A Giving Mindset
Written by: Aishwarya Gopalakrishnan, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Once you become a witness to your experiences and life as you perceive it, the veil of illusion starts becoming visible. You begin to realize that life, as you experience it, is 100% your doing. Whether it be through your experiences in this lifetime or references to memories from your past lifetimes, the accumulated karma will always shape the way you experience life.
While we tend to focus on things we receive, from people, from our surroundings, from our desires, the shift of focus needs to happen to what we can give. In any given situation, the question becomes “What can I give? What can I provide? How can I help?” instead o being “What will I get?”
When we shift to what we are able to give, we automatically start focusing on the parts of life where we find a dutiful purpose. This in turn, gradually takes away the focus on the attitude guided by the ego (self-benefiting expectations from everyone and everything).
Instead, now, when you receive something, it seems to become almost a gift, something you received without asking/expecting it. This in turn, generates a spirit of gratitude.
Gratitude is one of the strongest positive emotions. It communicates to the universe that you acknowledge fully that the Universe gives and you are ready to receive it. You are a child of it and that you are ready to accept guidance in whatever way or form, from it. One with the universe!
When one begins to become a witness of their emotions, thoughts, one moves from mindless action to mindful action. Action, in itself is secondary, since it is a step ahead of acknowledging the emotions and thoughts being experienced.
In order for the thinking to shift to a “giving oriented”, the shift of consciousness in a prerequisite. For once you have this, it is easier to mindfully redirect the mind’s process to focus on your own karma rather than the entire world!
Each one of us is constantly in a state of interaction with our surroundings. During these interactions, there is a constant exchange of energy. You, as a living entity, are constantly in a state of “give and take”. The ignorance of this inner power of your ability to give leads to a lot of conflicts.
Ask yourself this question. “What brings you peace” and answer this question with something that just depends on you, not on an external entity. Is it your integrity at your workplace, your commitment within relationships, your truthfulness in interactions, your ability to paint? What makes you peaceful? What makes you feel abundant with so much more capacity that you love to keep giving? This brings mindfulness.
In today’s world, we are constantly reacting to surroundings instead of responding to them with our authentic selves. We think we are doing things for others such as being truthful, honest, kind, integral ONLY in expectation of something in return. Hence, the goal becomes very transactional. Unfortunately, that is not how we function. That is too “inhuman” in ways that don’t even tap into the real human potential of giving. You are so caught up in the externalities and questioning them, that you aren’t even remotely aware of what’s going on within you, who you are. Simply becoming aware of this is so empowering, so freeing, so BECOMING.
Giving for the sake of giving itself brings peace. Hold and extend your integrity if it appeals and feels authentic to you, be truthful if that brings you joy and feels authentic to you, stay committed because that is what makes you happy, regardless of the externalities, regardless of how people react, regardless of what you get back, stay true to you, the real you, the inner conscience. Because in the grander scheme of things, by being in complete control of who you are, which is a source of real happiness, a first step for attaining inner peace, the first step towards the journey of moving inward, you can then truly transcend.
Be you for you, become better for you, so you can truly give knowing that you are at your best! 🙂
Aishwarya Gopalakrishnan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Aishwarya is a blogger who is passionate about yoga, meditation, sustainability and spirituality. She is an avid yoga & mindfulness practitioner who is also certified in the two respectively. She believes in living a holistic lifestyle & strives to incorporate elements rooted in ancient principles such as ayurveda, yoga, mindfulness & living a sustainable lifestyle. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge through her blogs. She is currently working towards her passion project that is aimed at creating an atmosphere for seekers & yoga practitioners alike. She hopes to bring this to the community very soon. She is an MBA, with an engineering undergrad who is a management consultant by profession.
