Giving Heart. M. J. Ryan

on>

      

      The

      Giving

      Heart

       Unlocking the Transformative Powerof Generosity in Our Lives

      M.J. Ryan

      foreword by Sylvia Boorstein

      CONARI PRESS

      Berkeley, California

       Copyright © 2000 by Conari Press.

      All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in

      any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of

      brief quotations in critical articles or reviews. For information, contact:

      Conari Press, 2550 Ninth Street, Suite 101,

      Berkeley, California 94710-2551.

      Conari Press books are distributed by Publishers Group West.

      ISBN: 1-57324-521-6

       Cover Illustration: Roger MontoyaCover Art Direction: Ame BeanlandBook Design: Suzanne Albertson

      LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOCINC-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

      Ryan, M. J. (Mary Jane), 1952-

      The giving heart : unlocking the transformative power of generosity

      in your life / M.J. Ryan, foreword by Sylvia Boorstein.

      p. cm.

      Includes bibliographical references.

      ISBN 1-57324-521-6

      1. Generosity. I. Title.

      BJ1533.G4 R93 2000

      177′.7—dc21

      00-009922

      Printed in the United States of America on recycled paper.

      00 01 02 03 RRD NW 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      In honor of

      all my teachers

      of the heart

      particularly my father

       We make a living by what we get, but wemake a life by what we give.

      —NORMAN MACESWAN

      The Giving Heart

       Foreword by Sylvia Boorstein

       1

       Opening Our Hearts and Hands

       2

       The Gifts of Giving

       Giving Is a Great Mood Elevator

       Giving Can Heal

       Giving Is Good for Our Health

       Generosity Alleviates Fear

       Giving Helps Us Experience Our Connection with Others

       Giving Allows Us to Look Deeply at Ourselves

       Generosity Helps Us See There Is No Difference Between Giving and Receiving

       Giving Fills Us Like Getting Cannot

       Giving Allows Us to Offer Our Unique Gifts

       Generosity Connects Us to Nature

       Giving Allows Us to Experience Oneness

       Generosity Helps Us Glimpse the Truth about Life

       3

       The Spirit of Giving

       We Are Inherently Generous

       Giving Is Easy When We Go with the Grain

       To Give Is to Live

       We Are Self-Renewing Systems

       Generosity Comes in Many Forms

       We Can Make a Difference

       Whatever We Do, We Do for Ourselves

       Gratitude and Generosity Are Indivisible

       We Are Both Generous and Withholding

       We Can Unblock Our Giving

       You Can't Say Yes if You Can't Say No

       True Giving Means Letting Go of Control

       If You Give, You Will Be Provided For

       Let Go of the Ledger Sheet

       You Never Know What the Effects of Your Actions Will Be

       All True Giving Is Loving

       Think Positive!

       Strive for Balance

       It's Both an Inside and Outside Job

       We Are God's Hands in the World

       4

       The Practice of Giving

       Become More Aware of Your Generosity

       Look at Your Gifts

       Set Your Intention

       Begin Somewhere

       Share What You Love

       Cultivate Compassion

       Surprise Someone

       Do What's Needed

       Look at Your Generosity Teachers

       Include Yourself

       Just Say Yes

       Learn Your No Signals

       Keep the Gift in Motion

       Practice Agape

       Allow Yourself to Be Appreciated

       Give Meaningful Holiday Gifts

       Offer from Overflow