Giving

A to me interesting story of someone telling me about their free "giving".

A woman came into our house. She offered to help me because I was seriously ill. While being in our house, she told us about her spiritual work.

She was part of a spiritual church and twice a week they would practice spiritual healing on people who wanted it. She said" I do not need to get anything in return for what I am doing, I am doing it for free, it is my gift"...

Sounds great, does it not?...she will be seen by many as a very good, giving person. Only to say something totally contradictory in the next breath without knowing it herself.

She said: "But do you know what, you help people and they can not even say THANK YOU!"

The need for a thank you, is payment. No giving took place here for free. The ego comes in many very slippery disguises. Payment comes in many forms.

Me, as a personality, like creating videos and slideshows. Just like anybody else I started doing this to become good at something so that I would get admiration. Now I do this as a spiritual practice to become detached from any kind of reward.

Every time I expect someone to give me credit, I am a slave to the other.

Every time I expect people to compliment me on what is created I am a slave to the other.

Every time I get happy because someone tells me how much they like what I have made, I am open for a left hook when someone says something like, "it is crap!"

Every time I keep looking for approval about what I have made I am a slave to the outside influences.

Every time I make something and look forward to being complimented I have not given anything to the other. I am taking from the other because I expect the other to give me something in return.

Every time I expect something from someone else I am a ball in the wind.

Every time I expect compliments, attention, I TAKE from the other!!!!!! There was never a GIVING!!!!!