THE GIVING-RECEIVING CYCLE

by Mark Victor Hansen

Curiously enough, the giving spirit creates the receiving spirit. So,
to get more all one needs to do is give more. The more ideas one
creates and gives away the more ideas one has.
Andrew Carnegie, the steel baron and philanthropist who funded
America's 3,000 libraries and the great Carnegie Hall in New York
said: "I'll spend the first half of my life creating great wealth and
the second half giving it away...Attempting to do the most good and
the least harm with my benefactions."

Carnegie was a generous genius with ideas. He gave away visionary
ideas with his charitable contributions. As a tribute and monument to
his gifts, his foundation is alive, well and still processing an ever-
growing largess. The Wee Scotsman was the first to give and inspired
other rich people to do the same. Now that is a legacy worth leaving!
It gives each of us a new benchmark to "goal" towards.

In giving and sharing you always have more. It seems arithmetically
as though one would have less but, in fact, giving expands whatever
one has. Music is the best example of this theory, proving that
giving and sharing always creates more for everyone.

When a musician gives their all, they feel exalted and thankful that
the music flowed through them. The audience is enthralled, entranced,
moved to happy tears, and feels compelled to participate
instantaneously in a standing ovation. The star musician bares his
soul and the audience is wowed and ecstatic to tell everyone to see
this performer.

Likewise, the simple act of giving simultaneously creates more good
and blessings seemingly out of nowhere. Why? Because God is always
watching and cheerfully gives instantaneously to the giver. That's
why givers' give more. They have experienced this amazing formula,
even if they cannot articulate it. They know that it works to their
and everyone's benefit.