Giving is Transformational
The world can be a dark place now with a global pandemic, climate change, poverty, famine, racism, and extreme and deep divisions in society to name just a few issues. But it doesn’t have to be that way for us as members of BNI. The world can be a better place, and we can make a choice, a choice to be the voice of change. And that change can transform the world we live in. Businesspeople like us are well-positioned to make that change.
Givers Gain® is indoctrinated into BNI and is a game-changer in how we network and do business with each other. Giving is an action that demonstrates how we can be bigger than ourselves, that our lives have significant meaning and through community we can be our best selves. People who get this philosophy unlock a whole new world of opportunity and meaning in their lives. Our job in BNI is to help people to embrace this philosophy and the principal core value of BNI.
Benefits of Giving
Research shows that giving to others activates a region of the brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust creating a warm glow effect. Altruistic behaviour releases endorphins producing a feeling known as helpers high. Other researchers found that people who volunteered to multiple organisations were 44% less likely to die over a 5-year period than non-volunteers.
The more extensive the reciprocal altruism born of social connection, the greater advance towards wealth, health, and happiness. There is a Chinese saying: If you want happiness for an hour take a nap, if you want happiness for a day go fishing, if you want happiness for a year inherit a fortune, if you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.
The Caveats of Giving
Give what you can afford, give from your saucer, not your cup.
Being an infinite giver doesn’t mean you need to feel compelled to always give.
Give, but be mindful of the takers in the world.
Giving isn’t transactional and it is ok to gain from giving.
Be sure to give without expectation of a direct reciprocal return, your gain will come in time when you may least expect it or be purely experienced through the act of giving itself.
Summary
Giving is a way of life where even a small gesture can change lives, but the biggest impact is on our own lives. Remember SOMEDAY, isn’t a day of the week and making a difference in someone else’s life and therefore in our own make it today, not SOMEDAY.
This education is based heavily on BNI Podcast Episode 691: Giving is Transformational
