“Always give at least a little bit more than you have to.”
That’s what I’ve been trying to remind myself ever since I wrote it down, about two years ago.
Some may call it the strategy of a fool. Others may warn it’s bound to backfire.
I’m not here to say they’re wrong—I understand where they’re coming from.
One of my biggest struggles when I was younger was not knowing how much giving is “enough.” And by giving, I mean not just time or material things, but also emotion, energy, and trust. There were countless times when I felt hurt in the end, making me question whether I was foolish to give when others didn’t seem to care.
“Why did I feel this way?”
“Was I weak for giving so unreasonably?”
I tried putting up my guard, shielding myself from what I thought was “giving too much” because no one had asked for it—only to realize that holding myself back left me with a profound sense of unfulfillment. The popular “self-help” advice that resonates with so many didn’t make me feel any wiser or more powerful—instead, it made me feel as though I was stifling the very essence of who I am.
It felt like an endless internal battle: the fight between my instinct and fear over how much I should give. I wanted to protect myself from getting hurt again, but the constant tug-of-war left me exhausted and restless, desperately searching for an answer.
Years passed, and I finally found my answer—not from anywhere else but the immense gratitude I feel in every corner of my soul.
I’ve received more than enough.
I am safe.
I am free.
I am healthy.
I have an imagination that takes me places.
I have an education that helps me make a living.
I have a higher self that guides me in my journey.
I am grateful for everything,
and so I know,
I am loved.
I have more than enough.
What truly made me feel hurt in the past wasn’t that I gave too much, but that I gave from a limited belief—that I was limited, that I only had so much to give. I saw giving as an act of throwing away my scarce resources, hoping something would return so I wouldn’t run out.
But I was wrong.
What I failed to realize is that I’ve always been connected to an endless source. In fact, we’re all connected to it—it isn’t limited or transactional; rather, it’s rooted in our ever-growing faith, which creates abundance and spiritual security.
On Thanksgiving this year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the notion of giving unconditional love. As much as I’m grateful for the moments of joy and happiness, I’m equally thankful for the times of loneliness and sorrow.
And still, for always choosing to give.
💗
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