We often hear that it is better to give than to receive.\u00a0 In many spiritual traditions giving is seen as divine.\u00a0 It is often said that we must give our love to those whom we say we love and that the more we give, the stronger our love grows.\u00a0 Indeed, when we truly give of ourselves, the divine spark within us grows stronger.<\/p>\n
Studies link giving with better health<\/a>, decreased risk of mortality<\/a>, increased cooperation, and feelings of gratitude.\u00a0 Giving is good for both the giver and the receiver.\u00a0 And giving would begin the reversal of what The Fuji Declaration states is \u201chumanity[\u2019s] . . . material gain beyond necessity, taking from others and depleting the Earth\u2019s natural resources.\u201d<\/p>\n There is so much need in the world.\u00a0 Yet, quite often we don\u2019t give because we are afraid.\u00a0 We are afraid that if we give then we will not have enough for ourselves and those we care about.\u00a0 Possibly we are afraid that the one to whom we are giving does not deserve our gift.\u00a0 Or maybe we are afraid that we will be perceived as weak because of our giving.\u00a0 We must let go of our fear and trust the divine spark within us.\u00a0\u00a0 When we can give without fear, we begin to strength and fuel the divinity within us and those around us.<\/p>\n To achieve a culture of oneness, we must give freely of ourselves without regard to nationality, borders, and even species.\u00a0 We must give in an effort to promote all life and through that giving the divine spark itself will be nurtured not only in ourselves, but also in those with whom we interact.<\/p>\n The more we give, the more we will be able to give.\u00a0 As we give, we become more attuned to the needs of those around us and additional opportunities for giving develop.\u00a0 We discover more about ourselves.\u00a0 We build our own self worth, our confidence, and we discover that the material consciousness in which we were living is replaced by a new universal consciousness with the divine spark at its heart.<\/p>\n Through giving, we grow more grateful.\u00a0 We begin to feel true gratitude for what we have and for our ability and capacity to give.\u00a0 We also come to be grateful for those who are able to receive our gifts.\u00a0 And as we are able to help others, so those others in turn become empowered to help and ignite the divine spark within themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cFor it is in giving that we receive.\u201d \u2014Francis of Assisi.\u00a0 How true that statement is.\u00a0 We cannot begin to receive until we begin to give.\u00a0 Only in true sacrificial giving can we receive a peaceful and harmonious existence on a world where we live consciously and responsibly.\u00a0 In giving without fear we can \u201covercome the hold of obsolete ideas and outdated behaviors in today\u2019s unsustainable world.\u201d\u00a0 Through giving we can reconnect with the divine spark in each one of us and achieve the The Fuji Declaration.<\/p>\n