Get Your Give On

Behavioral Economics

Forgiveness is a Gift, But to Whom?

Cami Walker on February 9, 2010

When we are hurt we can go through a variety of unexpressed or expressed emotions, especially if the person has passed on..... The longer we leave them untapped, untouched and unexpressed the deeper our pain and more difficult it becomes. How then do we let go so we can forgive?

When we are hurt we can go through a variety of unexpressed or expressed emotions, especially if the person has passed on..... The longer we leave them untapped, untouched and unexpressed the deeper our pain and more difficult it becomes. How then do we let go so we can forgive?

Gratitude

When Giving to Yourself: Be Generous!

Cami Walker on January 5, 2010

I often receive messages and read blog posts that express some confusion about whether giving to ourselves is selfish, or if it counts as a part of our daily giving ritual.

I often receive messages and read blog posts that express some confusion about whether giving to ourselves is selfish, or if it counts as a part of our daily giving ritual.

Attention

Abundance vs. Scarcity: Do You Say Yes?

Cami Walker on November 5, 2009

I estimate approximately 500,000 people have heard about the 29 Gifts project by now, with all the media attention we've gotten and viral activity I've been able to track in very rudimentary ways. I wonder what percentage of people *wanted* to say yes, but couldn't because of their scarcity mindset?

I estimate approximately 500,000 people have heard about the 29 Gifts project by now, with all the media attention we've gotten and viral activity I've been able to track in very rudimentary ways. I wonder what percentage of people *wanted* to say yes, but couldn't because of their scarcity mindset?

Behavioral Economics

Giving without Spending a Penny

Cami Walker on October 28, 2009

So often we live in a place of scarcity (particularly financial scarcity) and allow that to be an excuse for not giving. This only perpetuates our sense of inadequacy, and encourages us to focus on what we do not have, or can not do, which locks us into a self-limiting cycle. It's easy to forget that by giving, we remind ourselves of the abundance in our lives. It is time we take notice of the blessings in our lives, and to build ourselves up with esteemable acts that are gifts to those around us.

So often we live in a place of scarcity (particularly financial scarcity) and allow that to be an excuse for not giving. This only perpetuates our sense of inadequacy, and encourages us to focus on what we do not have, or can not do, which locks us into a self-limiting cycle. It's easy to forget that by giving, we remind ourselves of the abundance in our lives. It is time we take notice of the blessings in our lives, and to build ourselves up with esteemable acts that are gifts to those around us.

Behavioral Economics

Perfectionism is Exhausting

Cami Walker on October 20, 2009

Annie--one of my best SF friends who used to allow me to boss her around at an ad agency where we used to work together--once taught me a good lesson about perfectionism. She spent a day at a fancy time management seminar because I suggested improving her time management skills in her quarterly job performance review. When she came back to the office the next day, I asked her, "What's the most useful thing you learned yesterday?" Annie's reply to me was: "Perfectionists never get anything done. You need to let me make more mistakes."

Annie--one of my best SF friends who used to allow me to boss her around at an ad agency where we used to work together--once taught me a good lesson about perfectionism. She spent a day at a fancy time management seminar because I suggested improving her time management skills in her quarterly job performance review. When she came back to the office the next day, I asked her, "What's the most useful thing you learned yesterday?" Annie's reply to me was: "Perfectionists never get anything done. You need to let me make more mistakes."

Depression

Scarcity versus Abundance, and How Meditation Can Help

Cami Walker on September 24, 2009

Mbali warned me in the beginning of the project to watch out for the tendency to overgive and I think in the past few weeks I have fallen into this pattern. "Giving does not mean giving so much that you feel depleted or deprive yourself of the things you need for basic survival," warned Mbali. "In fact overgiving, is a red flag that you are operating from the energy of scarcity rather than abundance."

Mbali warned me in the beginning of the project to watch out for the tendency to overgive and I think in the past few weeks I have fallen into this pattern. "Giving does not mean giving so much that you feel depleted or deprive yourself of the things you need for basic survival," warned Mbali. "In fact overgiving, is a red flag that you are operating from the energy of scarcity rather than abundance."

Health

Get Grounded

Cami Walker on September 15, 2009

How do we retain a calm center when all the structures we have centered our lives around appear to be falling away? Jobs and careers are disappearing as whole industries collapse; banks have and will continue to fail; fortunes and nest eggs have fallen; many people have lost or will lose their most valuable asset—their homes. In many areas of the country, new houses stand empty and shopping districts look like ghost towns.

How do we retain a calm center when all the structures we have centered our lives around appear to be falling away? Jobs and careers are disappearing as whole industries collapse; banks have and will continue to fail; fortunes and nest eggs have fallen; many people have lost or will lose their most valuable asset—their homes. In many areas of the country, new houses stand empty and shopping districts look like ghost towns.

Integrative Medicine

Answer the Call: The Gift of Breath

Cami Walker on September 9, 2009

A calling requires a response. About thirty years ago I was called to learn to meditate, and after a two-year search, found a school that taught a visualization-based form of meditation intended to wake up one's intuitive ability. At the time I had no idea how answering this urge would change my life.

A calling requires a response. About thirty years ago I was called to learn to meditate, and after a two-year search, found a school that taught a visualization-based form of meditation intended to wake up one's intuitive ability. At the time I had no idea how answering this urge would change my life.

Integrative Medicine

Water in The Belly

Cami Walker on September 3, 2009

I was in a relationship without intimacy or trust. We had sex once in a while, were polite with each other, but the thrill had gone. Moving to a new and better house did nothing to reduce my nagging anxiety or fatigue. As the saying goes, we “pulled a geographical” by changing location, but moved our unfinished business and denial in with the food and furniture.

I was in a relationship without intimacy or trust. We had sex once in a while, were polite with each other, but the thrill had gone. Moving to a new and better house did nothing to reduce my nagging anxiety or fatigue. As the saying goes, we “pulled a geographical” by changing location, but moved our unfinished business and denial in with the food and furniture.

Friends

Flower Power Give

Cami Walker on August 27, 2009

I have been giving a gift a day since March 19, 2008. When I began this daily giving ritual I was in a very dark place in my life. I was very sick, struggling with a major Multiple Sclerosis flare. I was broke because I was unable to work due to my condition. I was isolated from my friends and family because I was an angry, resentful woman and stopped reaching out to others.

I have been giving a gift a day since March 19, 2008. When I began this daily giving ritual I was in a very dark place in my life. I was very sick, struggling with a major Multiple Sclerosis flare. I was broke because I was unable to work due to my condition. I was isolated from my friends and family because I was an angry, resentful woman and stopped reaching out to others.

Alcoholism

Compassion and a Bottle of Booze

Cami Walker on August 24, 2009

Today I was at the corner store buying a bottle of water. I was standing in line behind a woman who reeked of alcohol and there was a long line of impatient people behind me. The woman at the front of the line was obviously in alcohol withdrawal and was showing the beginning signs of DTs. Her hands were shaking like leaves blowing in a hefty wind. 

Today I was at the corner store buying a bottle of water. I was standing in line behind a woman who reeked of alcohol and there was a long line of impatient people behind me. The woman at the front of the line was obviously in alcohol withdrawal and was showing the beginning signs of DTs. Her hands were shaking like leaves blowing in a hefty wind. 

Behavioral Economics

The Giving Return

Cami Walker on August 13, 2009

Giving is reciprocal and self-balancing. As you give more, you experience a psychic shift that heightens your awareness of the many things you receive. The giving part is easy, the receiving can be more difficult and more uncomfortable. We're programmed to see receiving as a sign of weakness. Overcoming that preconceived notion can take more effort than you'd think, but there's a payoff.

Giving is reciprocal and self-balancing. As you give more, you experience a psychic shift that heightens your awareness of the many things you receive. The giving part is easy, the receiving can be more difficult and more uncomfortable. We're programmed to see receiving as a sign of weakness. Overcoming that preconceived notion can take more effort than you'd think, but there's a payoff.

Behavioral Economics

Giving in Down Times

Cami Walker on August 8, 2009

Sometimes, when the news all seems to be bad, when the bank account is running low, when our emotional stores are feeling empty, it is more difficult to feel generous. We find ourselves in a state of scarcity, clutching desperately to what we have, holding it closer and struggling with the concept of giving anything away. In the present economy, many people are stuck in this cycle of scarcity and fear. These are the times when giving can be most important, and can have the greatest positive influence on our state of mind.

Sometimes, when the news all seems to be bad, when the bank account is running low, when our emotional stores are feeling empty, it is more difficult to feel generous. We find ourselves in a state of scarcity, clutching desperately to what we have, holding it closer and struggling with the concept of giving anything away. In the present economy, many people are stuck in this cycle of scarcity and fear. These are the times when giving can be most important, and can have the greatest positive influence on our state of mind.

Happiness

A Closed Hand Can't Receive

Cami Walker on July 30, 2009

Are you still holding on to that 1980s breakup CD? A childhood teddybear? We often hold on to items that have sentimental value, or continue habits we form in reaction to our past.Whether they are material objects or behavioral patterns, they anchor us to our past and waste the energy we could be channeling into realizing our dreams.

Are you still holding on to that 1980s breakup CD? A childhood teddybear? We often hold on to items that have sentimental value, or continue habits we form in reaction to our past.Whether they are material objects or behavioral patterns, they anchor us to our past and waste the energy we could be channeling into realizing our dreams.