I received a question after I completed 100 days of giving my time.

“I’d be interested to hear, Eric, how this process has brought more abundance into your life…other than the important feeling of satisfaction for being a giver.” — Leissa

That’s a good question Leissa, and not easy to answer. Certainly, I am satisfied with my effort so far. That is important because self-satisfaction is a good feeling. And giving is, for good or bad, mostly emotional.

But more than that, I now see a richness and depth in my life which before was not visible. I have an awareness of things of which before I wasn’t aware. I sense connections between things which before  weren’t connected.

I also better understand what prevents people from giving. I see and hear ways in which they distance themselves from other people through their language and behavior. I see the labeling of others. I hear the criticism of others. I hear the criticism of themselves at the same time. I hear how much we talk about ourselves. I didn’t hear this before, but I hear it now.

When I drive down the road I see people, not cars. When I see homeless people I ask who they are, not why.  When I see trash on the street I see it as my responsibility, not another’s. When I talk to my friends I try to listen more, not less.

This new awareness has also given me glimpses of what initiative is like. Glimpses of how I have to extend myself and fail. Glimpses of how I have to extend myself again and again, if I am to give meaningfully. Glimpses of how I need to try harder even when I can say I’ve done enough.

Just as a vessel can be filled, so can a person be filled with abundance. The abundance I now have is an abundance of richness, depth and awareness in my life that eluded me before. I also have an abundance of initiative to give more and to fail more. I have an abundance of desire to see what else I discover during this challenge and find new ways I can change myself to give more. I am slowly filling.

But this abundance is not just for me. This abundance is for me to give.