GIFT IT

A wise woman, who was travelling in the mountains, found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveller who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveller saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveller left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.

However, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. "I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone."

The ability to share involves the varied dimensions from the joint use of a resource to giving away one’s possession as an outright gift. We find it easier to share joint use, but find internal resistance is asked to part with our valuables, be they resources, knowledge or skills. Also for many of us, sharing is a comparative and reflexive activity. We give gifts to only those who give us gifts.

But the real development of our personality happens when we shed our insecurities towards our possessions. Consider knowledge for instance. Those who readily gift knowledge to the others are more worthy than the greatest of scholars who refuse to share their knowledge. In my profession, the most admired trainers are not the ones who give excellent training programs BUT trainers who have "nurtured" other trainers. Ditto for our most admired leaders. Note that they share both their treasures as well as their spirit...

The ability to gift without any preconditions of transaction helps develop new dimensions to our personality. By letting go, we liberate ourselves. By sharing, we enhance our relationship with the other person. By gifting, we empower our attitude and abilities.

To grow we must let go of the insecurities of possession
Let’s share our valuable gifts and ‘Develop new dimensions’!

Regards
Pravin