There is an unbreakable Universal Law of Giving interwoven into the very fabric of the universe, and necessary for the existence of life itself. There is also the Universal Law of Receiving that is intricately interwoven with life as well. Together they make up the flow of balance for all life, for nothing could ever be given without it being received, and nothing could ever be received unless it was given. In fact, there is a sacred law, a natural law, that all must live within: in order for all things to be in balance, there must be a balance of giving and receiving. That which we give and that which we receive must be kept in balance at all times.
Dr. Deepak Chopra, M.D. writes and lectures on the universal laws and how they holistically apply to our lives. In one of his teachings he says: “The universe operates through dynamic exchange…giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe. And in our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives.” When we see giving and receiving from this holistic perspective the pressures of the holiday season can dissolve as we begin to release the false expectations and attachments that it’s all about “the presents.” Instead, we can begin to realize that it’s actually all about “The Presence” and being present as we engage in a natural energy flow which puts us in direct alignment with the abundance of the universe. Indeed the holidays are a time of peace and joy when we are energetically flowing in harmony with the natural rhythms of these universal laws in our lives.
A balance of giving and receiving doesn’t have to have anything to do with money. Money is only one form of energy we exchange. Perhaps it is better to look at how to balance our giving and receiving in other ways. For example we receive every time we listen to someone else, contemplate, meditate, and reflect. We can give through acts of kindness and compassion. Generosity is something we can share through our time and our energy as well as our money. In fact, when we are not receiving abundance in our lives it is time for acts of generosity which will bring that flow back into balance once again. In the words of St. Frances of Assissi, “it is in Giving that we Receive.” Acts of generosity do not have to be great things, but small things done in a great way.