Givers Get

The Great Depression in the United States began on “Black Tuesday” with the Wall Street crash of October, 1929 and rapidly spread worldwide. The market crash marked the beginning of a decade of high unemployment, poverty, low profits, deflation and lost opportunities for economic growth and personal advancement. It is thought that the basic cause of the Great Depression was a sudden loss of confidence in the economic future and a combination of high consumer debt, ill-regulated markets that permitted malfeasance by banks and investors, cutbacks in foreign trade, and growing wealth inequality, all interacting to create a downward economic spiral of reduced spending and production.

The recent declines in the financial markets have many people losing hours of sleep worrying about their investment and retirement plans. These declines have people thinking there will be a shortage of money and that we are heading into another depression akin to the Great Depression and they should hoarde what little they have left.

But the truth is actually very different. The truth is that there is more than enough money to make the world go around. Abundance is our natural state–not lack.

In the book The One Minute Millionaire: The Enlightened Way to Wealth by Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen they teach about the Enlightened Millionaire. One of their “AHA!” moments explains the power of Giving as the highest form of manifestation of our truest nature. They tell us to donate the first 10% of all we earn to charities and churches in our communities. Why? Because giving multiplies prosperity a thousand times. Take a look as some of the biggest givers–Oprah Winfrey, John D. Rockerfeller, Andrew Carnegie and Bill Gates. They continue to be prosperous and in fact attain more prosperity each year.

The authors believe that the more you give, the more you’ll get because giving gives the greatest return on your money. Giving expands money much as water expands when it is heated. Giving magnifies, multiplies and exponentializes money. Conversely, the tighter you squeeze, the smaller and tighter money becomes. Remember Scrooge before the ghosts visited? But you must give from an attitude of gratitute and abundance. Giving is a seed that continues to produce, not just for you, but also for those around you.

In this time of negative newspaper headlines and special reports about the bleak future of our finances, think about turning off the television, or not reading the newspaper. This will help to keep your thoughts and emotions positive. Rather, think about charities or foundations to which you can contribute or someone you may know that can use some financial help. Give to someone or something that needs your support. You’ll be surprised at what you get back.

You must give to get, You must sow the seed, before you can reap the harvest.–Scott Reed

These are interesting times.

C. Carol Brown

Financial markets