A healthy attitude is contagious but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.
Tom Stoppard
I try my best to maintain a good, healthy positive attitude. Most of the time I do. But, sometimes that negativity creeps in and infects my attitude and on those days it’s a fight to get back to normal. Normal for me is optimistic, patient and giving. I am a people pleaser and peacemaker. I will give what I can when I can and most times I will give more than I can. I am that guy that will stop traffic to give my last dollar to the homeless man on the street corner. I like to give without any concern about getting anything in return.
A good healthy attitude is something that can be given and shared easily. It doesn’t cost anything but it will provide amazing returns for not only you but for everyone around you. Smile, Say “Hello”, hold the door for someone from here that effort will ripple out into the universe.
Over the past 10 years, I’ve learned that what you give comes back to you.
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you use it will be measured back to you.
Luke 6:38
It’s the Law of Giving and Receiving and therein lies my trouble. I have a difficult time accepting anything. I was taught as a kid that is better to give than to receive. And that was something that I carried into my adult life. I struggle to accept gifts, help, or even genuine compliments. I feel embarrassed or unworthy, so I would just casually brush it off.
But, I have learned that by not graciously receiving a gift from someone I am not allowing them to experience their own joys of giving.
This is something I try to work on daily.
I have to remind myself that it is just as good to receive as it is to give. I need to humble myself to be a gracious receiver allowing others to experience the joys of giving.
I promise to graciously give as well as receive and I always keep my promises, Scott S.
Thank you for being such a kind and caring human being. I have also struggled receiving in the past and I am grateful that I read my index card everyday that reminds me to be gracious and say “thank you.”
Scott, I am delighted to read how you have turned around the habit of not receiving and by “allowing others to experience the joys of giving” you are giving them a gift too.
It’s interesting how it can be so one-sided. With the pleasure and fulfillment it brings to you to give, it sounds odd that you’d consciously deny others of the same. (Sounds to me like a curse to deprive you of the rewards you should be reaping from all of your giving!)
Great insight Scott; ” I need to humble myself to be a gracious receiver allowing others to experience the joys of giving”. I had also difficulties to receive when I was younger, but then I realised that it was a gift from me to others to gratefully receive from others. It is a graceful gift from me to let others show how much they appreciate and love me. And at the same time it is a gift to myself to see myself worthy appreciation and love expressed in the gifts.
“I promise to give as well as graciously receive.” Thank you Scott.
So true Scott. Learning to be a gracious receiver is really hard when you like to give. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Keep up the great work.
Scott, I just love that Tom Stoddard quote you start with, that a healthy attitude is contagious. Thank you for sharing that. And…I know you are not alone about being able to receive as well as you give! Your writing about it here and what you’re doing about it is a great contribution. 🙂
Giving and receiving does go both ways, doesn’t it, Scott? Otherwise we tend to block the flow. Thanks for keeping this in mind as you grow and get more and more from life! Great blog #4! “-)
Fantastic Scott that you realize “I need to humble myself to be a gracious receiver allowing others to experience the joys of giving.”
Thank you for sharing.