“There was a man, and they called him mad; the more he gave, the more he had.” – John bunyon

That quote from John Bunyon was often repeated to me by my mother when I was growing up. And yet I still grew up thinking as culture had taught me, that my success was measured by my possessions. I believed in the big lie: Life is all about me. But slowly I began to realize that there is so much more to life than what you own and can hold onto.

You, too, have been lied to. You were told that if you just worked hard enough and earned enough that you would be happy. Then you would get your reward and you could start living. As a result we often feel empty, never satisfied. Always looking for the next thing that will make us feel happy. But it never lasts.

I’m still tempted by consumerist ideals and I still desire to have the latest and greatest. It’s my own cultural war to fight against myself. But I’m learning that the finer things in life cannot be purchased. The more you give your life away, the more you’ll find it.

Living generously is not easy and it doesn’t come naturally. But it is how we were created to live. It’s the only way that we can find the satisfaction we have been searching for. You don’t need a bridge, and monument, or a big bank account to leave a legacy that will give your life meaning. Your life has meaning now to those whom you serve, in your generosity.

So what are you waiting for? Go be generous! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Allow yourself to be interrupted.
• Do something nice for your neighbors. Give them a basket of fruit, pick up their newspaper, or take their trash to the street for them.
• Go through your cloths and donate anything you have not worn in the last 60 days (or 90, or year, or whatever).
• Make a donation to a nonprofit.
• Focus on the giving, not the getting.

Treat people as though they have already achieved the greatness they are searching for. We are all great, and we don’t need stuff to prove it. Remember the golden rule by reminding yourself everyday of the generosity you want to feel. Be generous, enjoy life, and live humble.