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The Art of Giving
In the pursuit of the life we dream of, this journey we are on forsuccessful living, the focus is usually on figuring out what it is exactlythat we want and then setting ourselves on course for going and getting it.This is very important: Know what you want to get for your life and thenpursue it. But there is another aspect of achieving the life you dream of that seems onthe surface to actually be counter-productive to getting the life you want,yet is imperative to the successful life. It is giving. Giving - of yourself, your time, your money, your energy - is something thattakes us from simply being successful people in the traditional sense of theterm, to being people who lead successful lives. Giving is what makes us fully human. It is the essence of what we are,people who are here on earth together, not simply people who hope to clamorto the top of the pile in the survival of the fittest. Yes, pursue your lifeand your success with wild abandon; be responsible for yourself and takeownership of your life, realizing that you cannot be responsible for others,but also allow yourself to become a giving person. Giving is also what allows us to accomplish things far beyond ourselves; andthat is part of what living the life of our dreams is all about, right?Accomplishing great things through ourselves - and others! How do we do that? Here are some ideas: Make your giving purposeful. Give to people and organizations that fulfillpurposes that you believe in. This way, they feel good, you feel good, andthe work you believe in gets done. Giving purposefully will give you theability to know that your giving is doing something great. Make your giving proactive. Take control of your giving. When we control ourgiving it becomes proactive rather than reactive. We know that we are doingwhat we want to do rather than what others may manipulate us to do. We canavoid a lot of the wondering about validity that comes when we give out ofreaction. Giving proactively will give you a lot of peace of mind. Make your giving methodical. Every month my wife and I write out our charitychecks before any other checks. We do that on purpose to keep our hearts inthe right place. Every month, month in and month out, year after year, we goabout our giving. Our goal is to give away $1,000,000 by the end of ourlives (and we may have to even readjust that goal as time goes by since weset it when we were only 24 years old and we are well on our way to thatgoal.) This isn't done by giving big chunks from time to time. It isaccomplished by checks each and every month, methodically. Givingmethodically allows you to build up larger gifts over time. Make your giving generous. Don't be a tightwad! Loosen up the purse stringsa bit. Think of your giving in regard to how you can be generous, not howyou can cover your charitable bases. I have found that it isn't the extramoney given to charity that breaks people. It is usually mismanagement. Andat the end of your life you will most likely not know the differencefinancially, though you will in your heart. Making your giving generousallows you to give even greater amounts over time. Make your giving increasing. Don't just give the same amount from year toyear - increase your giving. I think there are two good times to readjustyour giving: The first of the year and any time your income goes up. Bumpyour giving up then, if you can. This will keep you on pace with your givinggoals and you will notice the increase less from your bottom line. Make yourgiving increasing and your giving will keep pace with your income. Make your giving from the heart. Don't just let your giving be a mind issue.Let it be a heart issue. This is what gives us our humanity. What causesmake your eyes tear up? What causes really mean something to your heart whenyou are honest with yourself? Start giving to these causes! Let yourcheckbook be a reflection of your heart! Make your giving from the heart andyou will allow your heart to grow. (Sometimes) Make your giving spontaneous. Sometimes... Allow yourself to bespontaneous with your giving. Do allow yourself to react sometimes. Will youget taken advantage of? Yes, sometimes. But you will also be doing somethingwithin yourself that will keep you from becoming cynical. Sometimes, as lifehas been good to you and you find yourself blessed, let yourself be theblessing to someone else. Make your giving spontaneous (sometimes) and youwill battle the disease of cynicism about charity that can creep in. These are just a few ideas that you can implement right now to begin the artof giving in your life. The key is to decide that you will become a giver,and not merely a taker. You will choose to leave something behind in thisworld and not merely try to get something out of it. And as we all commit to that, our world will be a better place and we canall live the lives that we dream of. About The Author: Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams. To see Chris "live" at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on the subject of Secrets of Influence go to http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.
Latest News:Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news News Corp exec becomes chief of Germany's Premiere (Reuters via Yahoo! News) News Corp's chief financial officer for Europe and Asia has been named chief executive of German pay television group Premiere, following the resignation of Michael Boernicke, Premiere said on Wednesday. News Corporation to redevelop London Wapping site (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is to redevelop its Wapping site in London, moving all its UK businesses, including News International, Harper Collins, MySpace and Dow Jones, under one roof. UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News (UPI) Chesney nominated for 7 CMAs ... Hoffman: I'm not playing Penguin ... 'RocknRolla' No. 1 at U.K. box office ... Jessica Simpson stops song on 'GMA' ... News from United Press International. DailyMe: News tailored to your individual tastes (The Christian Science Monitor) Column: Custom news websites come and go, but this one gets it right. Sarah Palin docu wins record ratings for Fox News (Reuters via Yahoo! News) In a week of records surrounding the Republican National Convention, Fox News Channel earned another one with its weekend documentary on vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. MySpace ad business ahead of target: News Corp (Reuters via Yahoo! News) News Corp's (NWSa.N) MySpace advertising business is operating ahead of expectations and its digital ad business is performing better than the marketplace, the company's chief operating officer said on Tuesday. STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Erdemir shares fall on iron ore prices (Reuters via Yahoo! Malaysia News) STOCKS NEWS Reuters Results diary News Buzz: Recreating the Big Bang, Gates Urges Slow Iraq Drawdown, Ike Gains Strength (US News & World Report) Top news from the Associated Press For consumers, good news down the line (Sun-Sentinel) Whether you buy a new iPod or not, there may be good news for you in Apple's release of new iPods on Tuesday . Fox News Vaults To Top Of Primetime Ratings (MultiChannel News) Who says no one watches political conventions? Fox News Channel?s coverage of GOP Presidential nominee John McCain?s Sept. 4 acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention drew 9.2 million viewers, topping all other basic cable shows last week, according to Nielsen Media Research data. Site: news - Google News News Analysis A Difficult Road Awaits Panetta at the CIA - New York Times
MORE RESOURCES: Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for inspirational Inspirational Experts in Fashion, Cuisine and Lifestyle to Share Tips and Trends at Orange County Head to Toe Women's ... (PRWeb) Southern California's premiere women's consumer show, the Head to Toe Women's Expo returns to OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif., October 10, 11 and 12, 2008. Presented by Ralphs Grocery, the Head to Toe Women's Expo gives mothers, daughters, and girlfriends a chance to reconnect during a weekend of shopping, pampering, makeovers and inspirational speakers. Several experts, ... http://firepit-plans.com Introduces "The Fire Pit Planner Guide" a Comprehensive Inspirational Guide to Building ... (PRWeb via Yahoo! News) http://firepit-plans.com is a new site that offers a unique do-it-yourself inspirational plan to building fire pits, the guide offers tips and advice on operating and constructing fire pits in the outdoors, house garden or backyard. Reporter's Notebook (Dallas Morning News) Certain parts of Irving City Hall will soon be getting makeovers. Residents and visitors can expect to see inspirational quotes on walls and prominent displays of the city?s mission statement within a couple of months. Bob Walter: Iraq hero gets moving tribute in Elk Grove Park (The Sacramento Bee) For a hero: As if anybody could forget Joe Nurre of Wilton, a fitting and permanent memorial to the inspirational Elk Grove High School football captain is attracting plenty of attention in Elk Grove Park. Joe Nurre A plaque dedicates an Elk Grove barbecue area to Joe Nurre. MCC Honors 9/11 Victims and Families (R News) Monroe Community College hosted a special 9/11 commemorative ceremony at the Remembrance Walk on the Brighton campus. The hour long event included music, inspirational speeches, a moment of silence and flowers placed at the base of the 9/11 monument there. Local review: 'Bill W. and Dr. Bob' entertaining, educational (The Pantagraph) For a gripping evening of theater as educational as it is inspirational, ?Bill W. and Dr. Bob? at Heartland Theatre Company, can?t be beat. Steve Amerson to Sing at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's Convention (Christian News Wire) DENVER, Sept. 11 / Christian Newswire / -- Steve Amerson, well-known Inspirational music artist will be singing at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's Annual Convention, A Celebration of Honor, in Denver, Colorado at the "Patriots Award Gala" on Friday, September 19, 2008. Radio pirate suspect arrested in Wilton Manors apartment (Sun-Sentinel) When you tune into FM 103.9 in Broward County , you're supposed to hear a sermon by Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale Pastor Bob Coy or inspirational music from the likes of Mercy Me and Steven Curtis Chapman. Randolph Reads kicks off with celebration (Asheboro Courier-Tribune) ASHEBORO ? A Randolph County initiative to unite the community in reading and discussing an inspirational non-fiction book about a nearby town?s struggles with change is under way. Honor Text Helps Americans to Remember (WCAV Charlottesville) The clock strikes 9:11am and your phone beeps, but it?s not your average text message. Instead, it?s an Honor Text, a brief inspirational message about some of America?s service men and women. Site: inspirational - Google News » Inspirational drama anything but 'Broken' - Chicago Daily Herald
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