The Effective Life

One of the greatest challenges that I see many face (and have experienced myself) on the road to financial self-reliance is overcoming the temptation to put off giving to those who are in less fortunate circumstances. Depending on my current financial situation, my ability to give to someone in a position less fortunate varies. However, I'm realizing more and more that it's important to develop an attitude of giving regardless of my current financial situation . It's all about having proper perspective.

I came across an great article over on The Writer's Coin which describes an experience the author's wife had with a five-year-old aspiring artist. The boy was selling his paintings outside his house, much like I tried to sell lemonade when I was a kid. Unfortunately, the author's wife only had about 25 cents on her, even though the boy was trying to raise $20. When the boy realized he had more money than her, he started offering her his money because in his mind he obviously had more than her, so why shouldn't he share. In the article, the author poses the question of "At what point does the little boy’s logic disappear and turn us into greedy, money-obsessed adults?"

Whatever situation we might find ourselves in, chances are we know someone who is worse off than we are. I certainly don't think we should just hand out money to whoever is walking down the street who looks in need (and become enablers of individuals who take advantage of generosity, only to find themselves in the same circumstances down the road). However, I find that looking for opportunities to give helps me to remember that as important as money is, at the end of the day, it's really just a means to helping those around me.

My wife and I set aside a portion of our income each month to give to those in need. While you might wonder why we do this, I've found that doing so helps me be more compassionate for those who may have fallen on hard times and remember that the world doesn't revolve around me. Especially during the current economic situation, countless examples exist of good and honest people, who find themselves out of work struggling to make ends meet. I find giving to a reputable charity or to someone you personally know is struggling can bring a lot of happiness in life.

And it's amazing that when you pay it forward how often it comes back to you tenfold.