What’s holding you back from being more generous with your time? What’s holding you back from being more generous with your talent? What’s holding you back from being more generous with your treasure? Are you afraid of something or are you just too busy and distracted?
Take a moment today and really ponder these four questions.
My experience has been that when we sit down and really think on these questions a little, almost everybody aspires to greater levels of generosity. The problem is life gets in the way. The demands on our time, talent, and treasure are enormous. Nurturing relationships requires endless amounts of time. Unexpected financial needs and dilemmas always seem to be popping up. It’s not that people don’t want to grow in their generosity; it’s just that life seems to be pulling us in many directions all the time.
If we are to grow in generosity, it will require an intentional effort. Life is so busy and distracting. We are not going to just stumble upon greater generosity. We are pulled in so many different directions that unless we make greater generosity a priority, it will not happen.
Now, here is today’s generosity habit.
Contain your frustration. Next time somebody does something that really frustrates you, something that absolutely drives you crazy, take a deep breath and allow the moment to pass. Impulse control is critical to living a full and happy life, but it is a quality that is becoming increasingly rare in the modern world. Impulse control is another way we can be generous with other people. It is natural to get frustrated, but don’t be a slave to your impulses. Part of what makes us wonderfully human is our ability to harness our impulses with our will and intellect.
Matthew Kelly
Watch the video!