Thoughts on generosity: givers get the most

Thoughts on generosity: givers get the most

I have been doing the Deepak Chopra 21-day Abundance meditation series. Day 9 focuses on the law of giving, with a line that stayed with me:

Today and always, I give what I want to receive.

It sounds simple, almost too simple. But it keeps proving true in practice.

I have seen many examples of how giving creates unexpected returns. One that stays with me is from volunteering at a music event. I was simply helping out and doing my part. No agenda. No networking strategy. I ended up meeting one of my most treasured connections.

Something shifts when you show up with generosity. People soften. Trust forms faster. Collaboration becomes easier. It does not feel transactional. It feels relational.

I am also reminded of communities built around contribution, where momentum comes from giving first. The Fax Club had some of that energy. People showed up consistently, shared work, offered encouragement, and let reciprocity build over time.

One of the values David Hiatt champions is that givers get the most. His story demonstrates the quiet magic of showing up with generosity and letting relationships deepen naturally.

This makes me wonder about generosity in a wider context.

Individualism can feel as though it is increasing. Work can become more atomised. Many of us spend more time alone, even when we are surrounded by messages and meetings.

So here is a practical question for a Friday.

Where could you be five percent more generous this week with your time, attention, or knowledge, without keeping score?

And what would it look like for us to collaborate more closely in ways that feel genuinely mutual rather than performative?

If you have an example where generosity created an unexpected return, I would love to hear it.

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