March 2017
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Wellbeing<br />
Advertorial<br />
Give<br />
yourself<br />
away<br />
Giving is as good as receiving help, says Karen Liebenguth<br />
Giving time to support or listen to someone,<br />
giving knowledge, respect, regard or praise, giving<br />
care and love...<br />
There are so many ways in which we can express<br />
generosity which are not related to giving money<br />
and yet our hard-wired survival instinct to look<br />
after number one can present a real barrier to<br />
going beyond our own needs and desires for the<br />
benefit of others.<br />
Being kind to ourselves increases the capacity to<br />
give to others. Once we learn to accept ourselves<br />
as who we are, we develop a sense of self-worth<br />
and confidence. With this comes a more open<br />
heart and mind and a capacity to give to others.<br />
We no longer feel threatened when a friend, our<br />
partner, colleague or boss has a different opinion.<br />
We are more open to other people’s views while<br />
acknowledging and respecting our own.<br />
Being generous is not just beneficial for others,<br />
when we give we benefit too.<br />
Practise being generous this week by journaling<br />
for ten minutes every day. Review the last 24<br />
hours, write down what you have appreciated<br />
about yourself in your day, what you have done<br />
well, what hasn’t worked so well and what you<br />
could and will do differently next time. This<br />
strengthens a learning or growth mind-set.<br />
Do you have a tendency to talk more than you<br />
listen? Find opportunities to give someone<br />
listening time, ask someone what’s been<br />
happening for them. Notice whether you stay with<br />
them, listening attentively or if you find yourself<br />
waiting to speak. Notice the effect good quality<br />
listening has on the other person.<br />
And every day seek out opportunities to give<br />
something small to someone – a smile, a wellwish,<br />
a heartfelt “good morning”. Make someone<br />
a cup of tea, offer a helping hand, visit someone<br />
who is ill or unwell, write a letter or pick up the<br />
phone to someone you haven’t been in touch with<br />
for a while.<br />
The list of possibilities goes on. Enjoy the<br />
experience.<br />
Find out more about Karen’s life coaching and<br />
mindfulness training at greenspacecoaching.com<br />
Book a FREE 30-minute taster session in Victoria<br />
Park. Email karen@greenspacecoaching.com or<br />
call 07815 591279.<br />
40 LOVEEAST
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