HEALTH AND WELLBEING.

Generosity.  

Generosity often thought of as the act of giving materially, also lies in the perhaps more tender art of recieving, and beyond materiality.

To give and recieve is to be in recipriocity. This harmony lies at the heart of health, at the heart of a joyous life. Robin Kimmer writes of this in her book ‘Braiding Sweetgrass:. "In a culture of gratitude, everyone knows that gifts will follow the circle of reciprocity and flow back to you again. This time you give and next time you receive. Both the honor of giving and the humility of receiving are necessary halves of the equation." 

Sharing also exists not only in the exchange of objects, but in giving our attention, energy, and being generous in our assumptions and beliefs we take towards others and ourselves.

Generosity of mind (always in concert with body), can soften our inclinations to judge. When we fall into judgement we alienate ourselves and each other. In moments where we may feel pulled to critizise others or ourselves for our actions or behaviours generosity of mind can be a transformational force that moves us towards openess and togetherness, rather than isloation and shame.

Giving and recieving truly in this way requires a presence and compassion with ourselves in moments where judgment arises. Judgement stems from a natural need to protect ourselves from hurt or harm. Gabor Mate eloquently captures this “Everything we judged about ourselves served a purpose at the time” -

By Helen Coutts

4th September.