Wherever You Go, There You Are

I'm reading a book for Clinical Psychology called Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life. And not only is it chocked full of interesting tips, but it really hits home in every chapter, dealing with the human condition. While most sections are very valuable, this one is particularly relevant.

Generosity

Try: Noticing the resistance to the impulse to give, the worries about the future, the feeling that you may be giving too much, or the thought that it won't be appreciated "enough" or that you will be exhausted from the effort, or that you won't get anything out of it, or that you don't have enough yourself. Consider the possibility that none of these are actually true, but that they are just forms of inertia, constriction, and fear-based self-protection. These thoughts and feelings are the rough edges of self-cherishing, which rub up against the world and frequently cause us and others pain and a sense of distance, isolation, and diminishment. Giving sands down such rough edges and helps us become more mindful of our inner wealth. By practicing mindfulness of generosity, by giving, and by observing its effects on ourselves and others, we are transforming ourselves, purifying ourselves, discovering expanded versions of ourselves (p.62-63). "