GIVE

1. Give

_There is a body of water in Israel that is actually below sea level. Water constantly trickles INTO it, but, because of the law of gravity, nothing can flow OUT of it._

*Do you know the name of this famous lake? It's called the Dead Sea.*

It's called this because the mineral deposits have accumulated to such an extent that no living thing could survive in this water. The water is literally dead. 

_Contrast this to what happens with "living water."_

*When you think of the term living water" the image that comes to mind is a rushing river or bubbling spring that is FLOWING. It's filled with life and movement. It doesn't just "receive," but is also giving" simultaneously. There is LIFE there.*

There's a valuable illustration here.

_Many of us believe that we need to RECEIVE more of something in order to be happy. Whether what we desire is money or love or something else, we think that we need MORE of it in order to be fulfilled._

As a result of this, we begin to operate in fear and therefore don't GIVE anything because we're afraid that we won't have enough.

The result? Like the Dead Sea, we become lifeless. 

*When we don't GIVE, we die.*

_Life is meant to flow. When a pool of anything stops flowing (giving), it becomes stagnant. Stagnant water breeds disease and death. It can't breathe. It can't receive any more. If nothing is flowing OUT, there's no room for anything else to come IN._

*The solution? Give. As you give, you WILL receive. It's a universal law. You see it at work in nature. You see it at work in the economy. You see it at work everywhere, because it's true.*

We've somehow been deceived into believing that if we DON'T give, we'll have MORE. Or we're afraid that if we DO give, that we won't have anything left.

On one hand, this seems to make sense. But it doesn't work. Because when we don't give, we shut off the flow of what's coming in.

If you truly desire to receive more of something, start giving it away. I know this sounds crazy, but it works.

*If you want someone to be kind to you, be kind to them.*

*If you want love in your life, love someone.*

*If you want money, give some money away.*

*If you want joy in your life, give joy to someone else.*

_The universe only responds when we act. Take the first step and watch miracles begin to happen. Too often we're waiting for something to come to us first. Take the initiative. Give and you WILL receive._