Background

In our increasingly tribalized world, one area that is continuing to take a hit is cheerful giving.

Outline

1. Selfishness
2. Empathy
3. Politics
4. Empathy

Factors

Selfishness

People are just plain selfish.

A good man asked for something the other day.

The person he asked for help responded by saying if you do this, you will get that.

Unfortunately, it was not a private conversation.

There were others there.

One can only imagine how the person that asked for help felt inside.

If it was me, I would have felt quite empty.

In fact, I actually feel a bit hollow for me.

Not empty, but hollow.

 

Empathy

Thankfully, Wikipedia helps:-

Link

Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference, that is, the capacity to place oneself in another’s position. 

 

Politics

Politics is one of the key driving points.

The more we see each other through the lenses of politics the more we give ourselves the license to deny each other room for differing take.

 

Religion

Religion, when used as a license to hate, discriminate, aggregate power, and resources, is a driving force, as well.

When you hear people talk about using religion to set up governments and institutions, one can factor in that human fallacies can step in, and overtake, warranted, the best offering.

 

Your List

Friend, are you cheerfully giving?

If not, take a little exercise and write out all the things getting in your way.

It is your list and so please take one more step.

Assign ranking or ratio to each item.

Yet, another step.

Assign categories to each item.

 

Beloved

Do not be like my “friend” who says “You don’t get what you want if I don’t first get what I want“.

That is not giving, it is bargaining.