“When you give to others to the degree that you sacrifice yourself, you make the other person a thief.” —Iyanla Vanzant, paraphrasing A Course in Miracles
Are you giving from your overflow? Are you pouring back into yourself? Some of you may be aware of the popular used metaphor in reference to serving from a half empty or completely empty cup. Doing so only drains you of the resources you need because you’ve been serving it to others and no longer have the support needed for you to sustain. Instead you should be serving others from your overflow (what has flowed over onto the saucer or table) because it doesn’t support you and you don’t need it to sustain. So often in life we find ourselves constantly giving and giving to others. Whether that person be a family member, a friend, or a significant other (spouse, lover, partner, or whatever you please to call them). Of course, let’s keep in mind giving isn’t a bad thing at all. We should definitely give to others as much as we truly can, when we can. But what I’m talking about is being able to give out of an abundance because you’ve taken time to put yourself first, to be as good as possible and take care of you and make yourself whole and healthy so in turn you’ll be able to give without reproach. I am sure we’ve all given of ourselves to individuals or even certain situations so much and so often at times, until we’ve gotten to a point where we go “Oh no! Not again!” Often times this is because we now lack the resources and basic needs to further give abundantly without reproach. By resources and needs I mean all of the valuable things that go into allowing each and every one of us to function and give abundantly like self-love, self-development, health, rest, and anything else that nurtures you emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically. You have to take care of you, reinvest in you and your mind, and love yourself first. I bet you’ll be much more effective as a friend, family member, partner, employee, and human in society because you’re internally fulfilled and you’ll be able to give without taking from yourself.
I challenge you to figure out ways you can nurture yourself so you’ll be able to give from your overflow?
It starts with you,
Amber Dionne
