Dusting my bookshelf yesterday, I stumbled upon my copy of Deepak Chopra’s book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and by habit, started reading it from the middle.  As if a Higher Power was directing the process, I opened the chapter on the Law of Giving.

Maybe it’s because Diwali is coming up this weekend. I’m in a more spiritual mood than usual, but reflecting over the last year or so, it’s a topic worthy of a blog post.

If one considers that the universe operates on energy and the act of giving and receiving are different aspects of this flow of energy in the universe, then surely one would receive from the universe’s abundance in as much as is required provided we give back some too. Tithing also helps to circulate this energy.

While the book looks at the act of giving from a spiritual aspect, one notices this act of Giving and Receiving even in daily life.

This short read is a good book to keep on your bedside table and you can learn more about its contents by clicking on the book cover below. 

Practical examples of Law of Giving in the real world

The best example that I can think of is my friend and loyal companion, my pet Miss Coco. Morning walks are time when she wags her tail at drivers washing their cars and morning walkers. She’s greeted in return with smiles and guaranteed at least one pat on the head.

She gives us her love and company. In return Miss Coco receives all the material comfort that a canine member of a family can be given from its human household members.

Miss Coco practices the spiritual art of giving, receiving and tithing to perfection. In my books, this lassie is successful.

Perhaps the balance of giving was tilted in her favor and had to be repaid which it was last year when Miss Coco suffered from hind leg paralysis.

Despite being given treatment in less than 6 hours after the problem was diagnosed (24 hours is the maximum if the dog is to have a fighting chance of ever walking again), by the time we approached week 5 of her treatment, the vet had reduced her chances to 30:70.

He was talking about wheels to help her move around once the 7-week window for recovery closed.

I believe God had other plans for Miss Coco’s recovery

The vet and I discussed the possibility of this frisky girl being depressed and the chances of improving the odds in our favor if I could somehow inspire her to take an interest in life again.

It seemed that the Smiley Stress Ball that I wrote about was not enough to provide the breakthrough and I was ready to go for broke. I purchased a baby pram to take Miss Coco to her favorite place – the garden.

It was a long shot, but it worked and the Law of Receiving began in earnest. The very drivers and residents she used to make happy during her walks started coming up to us and saying loving words to this little girl.

None of them noticed the peculiar sight of a grown-up human being pushing a dog in a top range baby pram around on a walk.

What they did notice was a little dog who used to chase the birds and had a tail full of wags in dire need of moral and emotional support to get back on her 4 feet. I didn’t need to ask, they wanted to be part of the miracle – which they were indeed.

Little children would run up to Miss Coco and say loving words while patting her head. The anti-dog people felt bad for her and told us to have faith in God. The Universe was giving back generously to a Soul whose mission statement in Life is to make the humans happy.

Miss Coco’s karma is very good. I found support via my friends and Group members on Facebook. Lots of prayers were being sent for my little girl, my furry baby on wheels.

Love combined with canine physiotherapy that I learned courtesy YouTube (we don’t have physiotherapy for dogs or cats in India) made Miss Coco stand up the day before my birthday last year.

It was a matter of helping her to walk with balance. 3 months later, the baby pram was put away for use when she is a senior dog.

It isn’t just spiritual energy being exchanged. Look a little further and you’ll find acts of Giving and Receiving being operated even in the outside world resulting in much benefit and mutual success for both parties.

For example, Chambers of Commerce and educational institutes, at least in Delhi often invite guest speakers to speak at seminars on topical subjects. The speakers may be paid a nominal amount or even invited to do it for free. The seminar guests may pay a nominal amount or even be invited for free.

There is an exchange of energy and success for both sides even if not immediately monetary. For the speaker, it is an opportunity to show case his knowledge and market himself or his organization. There is an opportunity to get business without brazenly soliciting it. The value of the service is proven in the presentation.

For the seminar attendee by giving their time and if required the participation fee. There is access to knowledge and information which aids in informed decisions.

Think about it. Isn’t that what we call a Win-Win Situation?

Living in the era of “Gimme, Gimme and then Get Lost

In an era where the general attitude is one of getting the most out of others without giving anything, what I like to refer to as “Gimme, Gimme and then Get Lost”, it is no wonder people fall into a rut or find themselves unable to make any real progress.

Their energy flows get blocked. There are just so many flowers you can get from a plant unless you nurture it and give it the right amount of water and sunshine.

Activate the Law of Giving and Receiving in your life today by giving compliments to others. Doing little acts of kindness to those who may not be in a position to return the favour builds good karma. The Universe ensures compensation.

Open yourself to receiving and show gratitude for what you already have, no matter how little.

Try giving a little, sharing a little and watch how abundance starts to flow into your life.

Have you ever experienced the return of a good deed? Even if it was not from the person that you gave to just when you needed help?  

PS. There’s lots more Coco life coaching at my blog. Here is one where Miss Coco taught me about empathy. On a scale of 1 to 10, how much empathetic perception are you using when you say “I feel your pain”?

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Get the Law of Attraction Essentials for the Real World Bundle for just $27 here or by clicking the image below.

Heart by Petr Kratochvil

Written By: Vatsala Shukla

Ambitious driven professionals have a tendency to set the bar high – for others and more importantly, for themselves.

If the bar is at a reachable stretch, it is achieved with the right amount of effort. When you cross the bar, you can raise it again. Bar heights are not set in stone.

What happens when the bar is set so high that you, an otherwise competent professional start to struggle?

Well, it could be exhaustion (working long weekdays and weekends), strained relationships with colleagues, family & friends and if pushed too far, the creation of a self-destructive negative mindset, unhappiness and perhaps depression.

High achievers in school and college may have the bar set for them by others. Maybe parents who are trying to live their unfulfilled ambitions through their children, teachers who need to prove that they produced fine students and even us if we really want to be seen as part of the A Group.

Since we believe and are conditioned by others and ourselves, we don’t step back to ask;

Does this work for me?

What worked for me in the past………does it still work?

Today, I’m writing from the perspective of a Super Professional who found peace and success when I moved from perfectionism to being human.

I also found that I was still on top of my game but much happier and loved.

Success without happiness is no success

To share advice from my Mother, who I acknowledge is a wise lady and often quotes words of wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita – Happiness comes from within. Do your best and leave the rest to God.

My best friend in Poland, who suffered from the same malady was intelligent enough to figure things out sooner than I did advises –

Don’t be so hard on yourself

I say – Be kind to yourself

You are your best friend.

Your companions in the journey of Life will come and go. Some may stay for a season and some for a purpose or reason but the one constant is you and your relationship with yourself.

So before you practice love and compassion for others and try to save the world, love yourself.

Be kind to yourself.

There is only one of you in this world; you are a masterpiece. So go forth and achieve without destroying everything which has value for you in the long run.

Embrace Compassion, embrace yourself and know that being critical or judgmental about yourself will not help you achieve your goals, even if after reading this post, you decide to lower the bar to a reachable height.

Emotionally Intelligent people practice self-awareness as the first stepping stone to showing empathy and understanding of others.

If this is an area that you know you need to improve on, now is the time to develop self-awareness.

Here are a few pointers to get you started on loving yourself and being kind to yourself.

The rest will come to you on your journey to Self-Compassion.

Step into the Now. Cherish each moment as if it were the last moment you have. Stop to smell the flowers, say hello to an elderly neighbor, dust the books on your bookshelf and watch the sky change colours during sunset.

Hey, even pat your pet dog or cat! Value who and what surrounds you in the moment. That moment will be a part of the past before you realize it.

Work out what the important things in your Life are. Is it meeting a deadline that can wait till tomorrow or being home in time for dinner with the family? In other words, value what is really important for you in your life. Don’t take family and friends for granted. Love them, appreciate them.

Learn to listen to your intuition and your heart. When you feel a sense of guilt about something, know that you are being told to correct course by your Higher Self. We are all connected to Divinity.

When we stop to love ourselves, our true Inner Nature comes out – one that loves unconditionally and is loved back unconditionally by the world.

When your Gremlins come out to play, acknowledge them and send them on their way. Be kind to yourself. Remember there is only one of you.

A lady whom I once knew used to write letters to others when she wanted to tell them things that she knew if said would destroy the relationship. It used to help her get things off her chest. She would then destroy those letters.

I suggest you write a letter to yourself today acknowledging how wonderful you are and why you need to be kind to yourself. It may be a short letter or a very long one. Read it a few days later and do come back to tell me what you realized.

Until then, be kind to yourself.

Written By: Vatsala Shukla