61: Learning Generosity

"...real generosity requires requires learning something different, something that may not feel natural for many people. It often requires real personal change. A better understanding of how generosity works can aid that learning and change..."

This week, I’m reading a quote from The Paradox of Generosity by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson. 2014 edition.

Reflection questions:

• How will you take time to explore your own generosity?

• Will you consider the most important generous person you know and reflect on how they become such a generous person?

To purchase this book: The Paradox of Generosity by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson.

Copyright: Oxford University Press 2014. Reproduced with permission of the Licensor through PLSclear.

To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.

Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

Transcript

Welcome back. This podcast explores the wisdom of generosity, from ancient to modern, and the beautiful space where generosity occurs.

Earlier this week, I was talking with a friend about why I make this podcast. A quote sums it up. This week, I’m reading a quote from the Paradox of Generosity by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson. 2014 edition.

Quote

In addition to the primary paradox of generosity — that by giving we in fact receive — we have noted in earlier chapters that there is a related second paradox worth noticing. This is that very large number of Americans, despite (we presume) wanting to enjoy happy, healthy purposeful lives, fail to practice the kinds of generosity that actually tends to lead to happiness, health, and purpose in life. Something gets in their way. Like children, whose fingers are caught in “Chinese handcuffs.” They pull hard to take care of themselves, but that simply keeps some stuck. However by relaxing and freely letting go of some of their resources, instead, the evidence suggest such people can escape the trap of ungenerous living.  

When it comes to generosity with money, time, skills, and relationships we know that relaxing, letting go, and giving away is not often automatic or easy. This is especially true in the American culture, which from all sides constantly pounds home messages of scarcity, discontent, insecurity, and acquisition. These messages may serve to grow the consumer economy, but they are often not good for the consumers. So given the omnipresence of these cultural messages, real generosity requires requires learning something different, something that may not feel natural for many people. It often requires real personal change. A better understanding of how generosity works can aid that learning and change. But in the end, we believe actually living generously results from an existential confrontation with what is ultimately humanly, valuable, and important in life in the world.

Unquote.

As fund development professionals, we spend time learning about the tactics and techniques to encourage generosity.  Yet, it is also vital to learn what generosity is.  It is more than a transaction or even a donation.  It is an attitude, a lifestyle, and a way of being.  And, thankfully, it is a way of being that can be learned and cultivated.  When we consider what we are learning, let’s make time to go beyond the techniques and learn the science and art of generosity.  

Let’s reflect on 2 questions this week:

How will you take time to explore your own generosity?

Will you consider the most important generous person you know and reflect on how they become such a generous person?

Share this podcast if you enjoy these five-minute reflections and subscribe to receive these reflections released every Monday. To explore fundraising coaching deeper, visit Serving Nonprofits dot com. See you next week.