gratitude

The Hole You Receive Through Is Only As Big As The Hole You Give Through

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32. The hole you receive through is only as big as the hole you give through.

There are so many reasons why this Tool works and why it is so right. If you are like me, you have seen the dog-eat-dog mentality. You have noticed those whose motto is to get as much as they can by any means. On the lowest level, criminals who cheat and steal basically give through no hole and what they receive is very little unless you are talking about jail time. This is one of those Tools that works on multiple levels. The first, and one you may just have to accept on a little faith, is that it’s just the way the universe works.

It’s one of those little known “secrets” that for the most part rewards those who give just as much as they receive. On a more practical level, when you give through a bigger hole, you are more likely to receive because others simply notice. You have a greater chance for referrals, being acknowledged, or just being given more opportunities because people admire your notion of “give first.” Keep in mind sincerity is a key; this Tool does not work with the sole intention of receiving more. Lastly, I think another reason one receives more by giving more is simply a better self image. When we give through a large hole, it makes us feel good about ourselves. It is obvious to see that this better self image would only naturally begin to foster success in our personal lives, thus increasing the size of the hole we receive through.

A modern day example that I think works perfectly is the mortgage industry. There was a time that it seemed half the people employed were working as brokers. Now most of those people have moved on; there are only a few who survived the crash. Why? Well, the majority of the brokers who jumped on board did so simply for their own benefit; they did it to make money to “get theirs.” They put clients in products and loans that they knew were bad ones. The hole they gave through was very small and the hole they received from now no longer exists.

On the other hand, I know a few people who survived. How did they do this? Their motivation was to make a profit just like the other guys, but they did so by doing right by the client. So in essence what they have done is kept their existing client base for future business, and they have the ability to pick up new clients by earning the reputation of doing the right thing for their customer. The hole they are receiving from still exists and will become larger because they gave through a big hole to start. Keep in mind when discussing the hole we receive through, we are not just talking about money. Imagine the good feeling the ethical brokers now have by doing right by their clients. Wealth is measured in many ways.

I struggled in this department as well. I was consumed by insurance adjusters and companies refusing to pay claims. I was constantly worried about things in the office. I often found that all the distractions took me away from the things I enjoyed about private practice. Then that all changed when I put my personal mission statement online and made it my mission to serve others. After that, nothing else mattered much. At the end of the day I would count how many patients I treated and that was how many people I served and lives I changed. When I started doing that, my income and satisfaction greatly increased, hence increasing my wealth, simply by focusing on the hole going out, not what was coming back in.

Get In The Habit Of Sending Thank You Notes

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37. Get in the habit of sending thank you notes.

You may be thinking to yourself, how can sending thank you notes help me reach the areas in my S.A.N.E. section? Well, that all depends on the goals you have in this section. This is a Tool that is a little random I must admit, but I think it can help you reach happiness and success in a number of ways. For starters, you may be trying to improve your relationships with people around you or adjust how people perceive you. So from the simple standpoint of self-image, telling people thanks in the form of a card will go a long way in how that person perceives you, no matter how insignificant the thing is that you are thanking them for.

Building a relationship with clients can be crucial for business and networking. When you send someone a thank you card, they will often be shocked, especially if it is for something that is a simple or small gesture. It conveys to the person receiving the card that you are aware of their effort and you are thinking of more than just yourself.

Your goal may be to give thanks more for the things around you. Giving thanks is a crucial part of personal success because you are acknowledging the things you have. We can lose sight of how wealthy we actually are unless we take the time to look around. So we not only want to thank God or the universe or whatever you give thanks to on a larger level, but we also want to thank those around us who help us reach our goals and dreams. A card is a simple way to do this. If you feel that a card is too small a gesture, send a gift basket or flowers. Gift baskets are what I like to do because often you can incorporate a theme that is similar to the realm of what the thank you is for, or you can customize it to something that the individual is fond of.

Lastly, you just may need to start feeling a little better about yourself, or you may want to brighten the days of people in your inner circle. Most people are not worried about material things as much as they relish acknowledgment. If you would like to improve your relationship with your spouse, give, or better yet send, a card thanking him or her for the things they do. You may thank them all the time and that is important, too. But the gesture of taking the time to pick a card, write a small note and mail it illustrates that you really are thankful.

In closing, when you start to do this on a regular basis, you change your mindset by looking for the good that people do instead of focusing on the bad or waiting for them to screw up. Also, when you give thank you cards for actions you appreciate, the person will continue or increase those actions. I say start simple by buying a box of them and making it a point to send one each day for 21 days, and see how it will increase your probability of success on the S.A.N.E. portion of your blueprint.

Pick a Charity

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15. Pick a charity.
One thing I have come to notice that keeps people from achieving growth and success in their lives is that they have little sense of purpose. What I mean by this is they feel little need or desire to work on themselves because they feel that their lives are mundane and they don’t see the benefit of striving to reach their dreams. I believe when you have something to focus on that is larger than yourself, it can give you a new sense of rejuvenation. This is where finding a charity to apply yourself can be a wonderful Tool to help realign your priorities to work on areas of your own life.

The first part of this Tool that helps you work your blueprint is seeing people who are often less fortunate than you. By helping others overcome their challenges in life, you begin to wonder what’s your excuse. Why are you not doing the best you can do with the obstacles you need to overcome? You may also discover some methods and insights on how people with difficulties handle those issues. The more you see people striving to survive and succeed, the more likely you are to do the same.

Next, feeling needed by a charitable organization and the people benefiting from the generosity of that charity gives you a sense of belonging, a sense of being a part of something larger than yourself. This feeling will spark a personal need to make yourself better. You know you are needed so the better the place you are in, the more apt you are to help others. In addition, you will seek out new information to help those in need that by nature will only rub off on yourself as you strive for success. Not to mention the constant thank you’s that you will be receiving, that alone will have you feeling better about yourself. There is no greater reward than helping others. For doing so, you will be rewarded.

By entering a new arena that you know little about and them knowing little about you, the opportunity to reinvent yourself is presented. People are always asking for a fresh start. Well, here is your chance. If you are always late, start arriving early to your new charity. If you feel you need to be more of a leader, there are plenty of opportunities in charitable organizations for leadership positions. Any area that you want to start becoming better at you can. These new people will only know you based on your performance within the organization. You have the opportunity to be however you want to be.

Lastly, if every one of us picked our own charitable organization, could you imagine how much better the world would be? We are not just talking about donating money. Often your time is far more important to a group than just cash. The impact would be widely felt; smaller government, smaller taxes and the ability to help others out of a sense of duty, not obligation. If everyone picked a charity of their own, the world would be a much happier place.

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