Empowered Service: For Yourself and Your World
By Amy Phillips-Gary

Recently I watched a motivational and inspiring movie called "The Moses Code." The various teachers who shared insights in this movie laid out three steps to living more fulfilled and joyful lives fully experiencing connections with ourselves, one another and with Source. The first step was "giving." Through examples, the teachers outlined how valuable giving, or service, is to not only those receiving but also to the person doing the giving.

"Yeah, right," sneers a voice in my inner mind. I've done plenty of giving over the years and, for the most part, it feels draining and not all that uplifting. Sure I've felt proud of the acts of service I've done, but I almost never associate these giving deeds with feeling energized, renewed, and invigorated. In effect, the service I've provided in the past has felt like a one-way endeavor with the energetic arrows all pointed away from me and toward the person, group or cause I was serving at the time.

Of course, I wouldn't call my past acts of giving selfless. Almost always there is a dimension of doing the "right thing" for someone else in need. There has also been a certain self-righteousness to my giving at times which speaks to why it is no way near "selfless."

It's no wonder that service has felt like an energetic drain to me!

But I'm ready to turn toward a new way of giving-- an empowered sense of service that taps into the wondrousness to which "The Moses Code" teachers refer. Perhaps part of my problem is that on some level I believe that there's something wrong with giving AND receiving. Some part of me equates selflessness with martyrdom. Conversely, another part of me feels that to not be selfless is to be stingy and a glutton. A belief I am ready to let go of is that I can only benefit others or my world when I am squelching my desires and feelings and burning myself out in the process.

What might a self-centering approach to service look like? Would it benefit others or merely the self engaging in the giving? I believe that when you serve from a place of joy, positivity and, yes, selfishness, not only will you-- the giver-- feel enriched, renewed and energized, others and your world can more fully benefit.

Serve for you.
When an opportunity for giving comes up in your life, take a few moments before saying "yes" or moving ahead. Check in with yourself and your motives. Do you feel compelled to give because it's the "right" thing to do or because you feel that you "should" do this act of service? Perhaps you want to prove your worthiness in some way; a chance to rack up goodness points. These motivations are neither right nor wrong, but I'm betting they will not allow you to fully receive the benefits of your giving.

Instead, ask yourself if you would either enjoy the activity or the feelings that might accompany the giving. For example, cleaning up trash from a stream may not be your idea of a fun day. And if you go ahead and volunteer merely because you know it's your duty to do this, you probably will cut yourself off from receiving any uplift from the activity. But if you show up, slog through the mud and haul old tires and trash from the stream with an openness to how great it feels to have helped clear this waterway, you may end up excited and actually energized from the experience.

Serve from a place of joy.
If you read the newspapers or watch television, it's hard to miss all of the horrible things reportedly going on in the world. It is easy to see it all through a filter of fear and negative expectation. Take global warming for instance. With all of the reports of carbon dioxide emissions, you may feel guilty just climbing into your car. Perhaps you've decided to take the bus or bike to work instead. If so, make this decision with an intention of joy and abundance instead of fear and scarcity thinking.

Does this manner of giving allow you to feel joyful and enriched? If so, do it! Essentially the actual act of service may be the same, it's the feelings behind the action that matter most. When you climb on your bike, celebrate that you are exercising your body, getting fresh air and bypassing gas stations creating a larger financial savings for your wallet! And, when you do use your car, appreciate its uses and benefits.

Serve and uplift.
As I mentioned above, I admit to feeling self-righteous at times when I give. As I donate money to an organization like Heifer International that helps people in developing countries or even when I drop off sacks of unwanted clothing to a charitable group, a part of me feels a bit better than those "poor" folks my giving will benefit. There is an elevation, within my mind, of myself because I am giving to these "needy" people.

How would it feel if I let go of the self-righteousness and, instead, open myself to any opportunity to uplift? That means myself and others. I could choose to enjoy my less cluttered closets and home as I drop off the clothing. I can even feel happy that someone will (finally) get to wear the sweater that's sat at the back of my dresser for ages. I can mail off that check to Heifer excited that potentially an entire village will eventually have water buffalo to assist them with their farming which contributes to a more plentiful Earth upon which I thrive.

>It all comes around doesn't it? So when I give and serve, it's really not about anyone other than me. As selfish as it sounds, this is how I believe service can be enhanced for all, not just for me. As you give, it's really not about what's "right," but what will make your heart sing and rejoice in this abundant, renewing world.
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Amy Phillips-Gary is a free-lance writer, homeschool mom and personal growth adventurer.