I just finished a 29 gifts project (I’m extending it into 360 days of giving).
At the beginning of January my younger sister (who manages my brand and markets me) talked me into doing 29 gifts project, based on the book by Cami Walker.
Cami Walker was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and was given advice by a South African Sangoma to stop focusing on herself and give 29 gifts in 29 days (a gift a day).
Today, her health has changed – the disease has slowed down its progression, she has very little pain and is able to work.
Her answer: she spends her days giving gifts to people.
Giving is Counter Intuitive
I wasn’t over the moon about starting a gifting project in January, at first I thought WTF am I gonna give and how much is this going to cost me?
I looked at all the gifts my sister was giving – she was giving amazing gifts, not cheap stuff you’d want to re-gift, but things that you’d want to keep because they had a special meaning to you.
So I decided what the heck - in for a penny, in for a pound. I was going to give gifts I wanted to receive with no expectations.
That decision has changed my experience of abundance.
Finding abundance in giving
Making the decision to give from the heart changed my thoughts on abundance.
The more I gave, the more aware I became of my blessings. And the crazy thing is I didn’t miss the things I gave away.
I’m not any poorer. Instead I spend hours wondering what I’m going to give to people, not what I’m going to get and it makes me feel abundant.
Lately I’ve even started changing my approach to business – instead of wondering what I’m going to get from others, I’m choosing to focus on what I can give and offer to people.
I'll write about this experiment in a few months but judging from the responses I think I’m on the right track.
Being open to receive
The first week I started the 29 gifts project I noticed something weird within me – I didn’t want to go up to people I didn’t know and give them gifts.
It felt weird. I thought people would find me strange and question my motives.
It felt weird because I was looking at the world from my point of view.
I have issues with receiving. I question people’s motives when they give me gifts, so I think others do the same. I’m not completely open to receiving the random goodness and kindness of strangers.
I’ve noticed that I’m not alone in this- there are some people I give gifts to who instantly feel the need to give me something in return.
To create a life of abundance, we have to be open to receiving all the good that life has to offer and to feel worthy of it.
Giving awakens gratitude
The more gifts I give, the more abundant and grateful I feel.
Two years ago my 21 year old cousin was having a very difficult time finding a job and/or keeping money. I started coaching her and bought her a book on gratitude.
The more she started writing the things she was grateful for and appreciating everything she received and giving back to others, the more content she felt.
After a few months she got offered a job as a store manager, she wasn’t earning a lot of money but she chose to feel gratitude for the little she was earning.
She understood when I told her that it’s not what she earns, but what she does with what she earns.
She chose to become an investor in her sister’s salon (her salary built the salon), is about to start studying Business Management and will be buying her first car cash in a few months.
Not only that but she is being asked to do motivational talks about gratitude at church and is now working on being a motivational speaker on a full time basis.
The law of attraction works in your favour
We all know the saying: the more you give, the more you receive.
Our spirit knows this to be true but putting this wisdom to the test when you have nothing isn’t easy.
The more I give, the more I receive and the more people are requesting Wealthy Money's services.
I'm also being getting great service.
It's irrelevant what mood I’m in at any given moment, people constantly respond with love, smiles and amazing service. These are people that don’t know me from Adam.
These people have taught me that not all gifts are material; we can give of our time, our knowledge and our emotions. All these things can change a stranger’s life in a second.
Making giving part of my life
I’ve decided to extend my 29 gifts project to the rest of the year and see what happens. If you want to join me on the journey, please feel free to post comments to this article on the blog:
or to share your stories on the Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/WealthyMoney
I will share an update on my journey and a list of 5 things I’m grateful for once a week on the Facebook page (I think Mondays) just to get the conversation going.
How do you feel about giving?
Let's connect in the comments section below.
