Giving Across Religions

“Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.”

            -George Bernard Shaw

Kind of an amusing quote I’d say! Obviously this is a twist on the “Golden Rule”  and it’s making me think… hmmm… is the concept of giving the same for all? As in all religions?  Being Chinese, my parents give me money every Chinese New Year in a red envelope called a “Hongbao”.  Believe me, it’s a fun tradition and I love it!

I wonder if other cultures or religions are just as lucky? 

Doing some research, all religions (Hinduism, Judaism, Islamic, Buddhism, and Christianity) all have similar themes on giving.

How interesting!

People who are Jewish and Buddists, believe it or not, seem to have similar themes of giving.  The Jewish have this thing called “tzedakah,” which mean righteousness or justice.  Jewish people give tzedakah not because it makes them feel good but out of a sense of responsibility; it is considered the right thing to do.  A Buddhist asks what is their motivation for giving.  Examining motives on giving is the Buddhist’s way.  In a way, both have a sense of “why” for giving and how giving should help benefit others and not just yourself.

Another fascinating combination.  Christians and Muslims!  Muslims give alms and charity as part of their religious practice.  Christians do this as well.  Devoting time for charity is a way Christians involves themselves towards giving. 

Hindus, I feel have an overall concept on giving.  Dana (giving) is an important part of their dharma (religious duty).  Hindus say, “A gift that is given without any expectation of appreciation or reward is beneficial to both the giver and recipient.”

That statement reminds me of something… but what?  Oh yes!  I know!  ALL ASPECTS of giving across religions.  The Jewish and their tzadakah to Muslims and their alms, giving is something that is humanely universal.  Sometime we forget that the purpose of giving is because we WANT to, not because we HAVE to.

So when shopping for Christmas presents make sure it’s something you want to do, not something you have to!            

Power of Positive Thoughts

“What we THINK about and THANK about is what we BRING about”

            -The Secret

You know how people say, “I can feel the energy in the room” and you just go ahead and agree?  I’ve never really thought about the power of positive thoughts but I’m pretty sure I’ve “felt” it before.  For example, going to a concert or to a church, I love hearing and seeing the energy and positive vibes. It’s like for one moment, everyone is on the same page whether it’s a good feeling or not.

The amazing thing about it is that whether we realize it or not, we create our own vibes based on our thoughts. If we are focusing on the positives – gratitude, abundance, health, love – instead of the negatives – sickness, scarcity, stress, problems – then we create a good vibe. Think about it, who would you rather be around, someone who is always complaining or someone who is always laughing?

Reading through some of the articles about power and positive thinking led me to believe that YOU yourself can project your thoughts and feelings and better influence your own life because what thoughts, images and feelings we have is what we are attracting into our lives. Recently, a friend of mine shared this on her Facebook wall, “Each person's beliefs DO affect others. However small you think you are, the beliefs you put out into the universe will join with others who think this way too and develop into an entire community of thought.” 

 It’s like the saying, “If you think positive then positive things will come to you”.  We become better at tasks and goals when we are happier.  It’s like in the workplace, if I’m happier with my job, I want to do a better job.  Thinking positively leaves little room for negative thinking and self-doubt and of course, more time for those optimistic thoughts. 

Realistically good things won’t always happen when you just think positively. However, it is important to realize that when something negative happens, we have the power to feel better about it.  Think about the last time something depressing happened to you, now divide it into parts:

1.     The event

2.     Your thoughts about it

3.     Your feelings about it

Most people are only aware of 1 and 3. Realize the power of your thoughts over your emotions.  Next time you have a negative, critical thought, balance it out by making a positive statement about yourself or about others. For example:

 Event : My boss just yelled at me for no reason.

Negative thought: She doesn’t like me. I hate my job.

Positive thought: I am a good employee. I’m grateful for my job because that’s how I pay the bills. She is probably stressed out about something else.

When we focus on the positive and are grateful for it, we bring about more positive into our lives to be grateful for.

This is why I like iBeanInspired 

 They primarily focus on positive thoughts and goals by projecting that thought into a real tangible living bean called an iBean.  It’s like you’re symbolically and literally growing your aspiration each and every day!  At iBeanInspired headquarters today, we had a short discussion about energy and positive thinking.  This pumped us up about the future and how we can be better as a team and as a business.  Hurray for positive thoughts!