Generosity and the Law of Karma

You cannot be too kind or generous for the fruit of karma is happiness and success. 

Many people have a belief in what Deepak Chopra calls the Law of Karma, in which every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in kind. 

This is not a New Age belief, but one that has been around for centuries, including the biblical phrase "whatever you sow you shall reap."

In fact, a common belief is "what goes around comes around," a concept depicted cleverly in the movie Pay It Forward. 

In Chopra's book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success he wrote, "When we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma is happiness and success."

It is not a guaranteed thing, or something that provides an immediate payback, but there definitely seems to be some validity in this concept.

However, you should not be generous or kind to someone merely because you hope or expect to obtain some future reward. Do it because you genuinely want to, and because it is your duty and moral responsibility as a human being to give to others once you have more than you need. 

Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch lady who helped many Jews escape the Nazis during World War II, beautifully said, "The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation."

Or, as President Woodrow Wilson put it a few decades earlier, "We are not here merely to make a living. We are here to enrich the world."

Besides, being generous and charitable is one of the paths to happiness. 

Motivational speaker Og Mandino explains, "Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself."

Here's a little tip from Zig Ziglar worth practicing, "Be helpful. When you see a person without a smile, give him yours." Doing so won't solve the world's hunger problem or bring about global peace, but in one small way you will be making a difference to a fellow human.

Be generous with your words, your time, your actions, and your money. Be as generous as you can as often as you can. You will be rewarded with pride in yourself and the respect of those you love.

As speaker Patricia Fripp says, "You cannot be too kind or too generous." 

This article is excerpted from the top-selling personal development book Project You: Living A Determined Life, available at Amazon in paperback ($7.90) and Kindle ($6.88) formats.