Recently a couple of things have prompted me to consider the notion of ‘generosity of spirit’.

The first was my experience of the real concern and genuine distress caused to people across the globe when one company chose to ground all its aircraft  as part of an ongoing industrial relations process.

The second was an interview with Australian of the Year Simon McKeon about the Occupy protests in which he restated his long-held views that big business, generally, could be doing much more in the way of philanthropy.

In both these cases, what seems to be missing at the core is a generosity of spirit.

Generosity of spirit is the openness and willingness to share our ‘gifts’ (both emotional and material) freely with others.

This sharing is done joyously and willingly, is generated through respect and compassion, involves experiencing and celebrating what is important to all of us, and comes without wanting anything in return.

In sharing, we generate abundance and increase prosperity for all. We can make a difference, transform situations, generate creative and innovative solutions and lead by example. We can strengthen our own and other’s responsibility, share our wisdom and knowledge for everyone’s benefit, foster peace and harmony, explore and build connecting threads where there were none and celebrate all that becomes possible as a result.

When we are generous in spirit we receive more than we ever imagined and understand that whatever we have given comes back to us in ways we may never have expected.

How many of us are genuinely generous in spirit? How many of us regularly do, give, accept or undertake something voluntarily or ungrudgingly?

Who of us:

  • picks up a piece of paper in the street that we didn’t drop?
  • steps in to help when our natural tendency is to do the opposite?
  • sits in discomfort rather than find the easy way out and turn a blind eye?
  • makes regular donations to those in need because of the need itself – not because of the prominence given to it in the media, or because it may ultimately be beneficial to our ‘bottom line’?

Generosity of spirit is contagious and generates its own opportunities.

When we do what we can – when we are willing to make life easier for others – it prompts more and more people around us to do likewise. Or at least to think about it. People do notice and eventually begin to respond in the same way.

Gayle