Member-only story
Giving Without Expectation — The Power Of Generosity
When was the last time you gave someone something without expecting anything in return? When many people give, we don’t always see the different levels of anticipation for a payback, even if it is tiny. What do we get from this kind of behaviour and is it possible to truly give without expectation?
What are your motivations for giving?
London is a fascinating city. Despite a large population of about eight million people where everyone seems to be in a rush, there is an overall courteousness of the people evident in some areas — like driving. Whenever a driver allows another driver out in front of them, it is not uncommon to get a thank you gesture from the other person. One day I was on my way to a train station on foot and just ahead of me someone was crossing at the zebra crossing. Another guy in the car immediately stopped and let the pedestrian cross the road easily. But the driver of the car didn’t just stop and move on after, he was in an absolute rage yelling, “you didn’t even say thank you!” As I walked by he looked on at me as if I was supposed to agree with him. His raised eyebrows and pursed lips suggested seething disapproval while nodding and looking for support. Okay, there is nothing wrong with saying thank you because being grateful is nourishing but here we are talking about the…
