{"id":189,"date":"2016-12-19T13:59:43","date_gmt":"2016-12-19T13:59:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alchemyfor.life\/balancecoaching\/?p=189"},"modified":"2016-12-19T13:59:43","modified_gmt":"2016-12-19T13:59:43","slug":"donating-the-season-of-giving-time-energy-and-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alchemyfor.life\/balancecoaching\/2016\/12\/19\/donating-the-season-of-giving-time-energy-and-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Donating, the season of giving – time energy and resources"},"content":{"rendered":"

Donations<\/h2>\n

When we think of donating to the poor or those in need we almost always exclusively think of it as monetary. \u00a0Right?<\/p>\n

“Did you make a donation?”<\/p>\n

“No, I didn’t give any money,” you think in response to the question. \u00a0Or, more likely, “Yes of course I gave a few dollars here and there!” if you are among the 94.5% of Americans who gave last year. \u00a0Thanks, average American!<\/p>\n

Donating, giving to the poor, giving to those in need are things that take more than one form. \u00a0Why should they be any different than everything\u00a0else..?<\/p>\n

..Says the guy holding and swishing around a big flask, metaphorically.<\/p>\n

Like everything\u00a0else\u00a0it takes three forms: time energy and resources.<\/p>\n

Checking What You have First<\/h2>\n

It is a normal human reaction to consider what you\u00a0have before<\/em>\u00a0you give. \u00a0Think about what happens if someone asks for your\u00a0money, by having a sign, asking for it directly, or ringing a bell incessantly until your right ear hurts upon entering the business and left ear hurts upon exiting.<\/p>\n

You\u00a0consider what you\u00a0have first.<\/p>\n

Do you\u00a0have spare change? \u00a0Can you\u00a0write a check for $20? \u00a0Or more? \u00a0Well, let’s see what you\u00a0have in your\u00a0pockets, or your\u00a0pocketbook. \u00a0This is important to remember, because you typically only check one facet of giving.<\/p>\n

Three Forms of Giving<\/h2>\n

Unfortunately both the giver and receiver are sometimes thinking in terms of just one facet of what we have in our flasks – resources. \u00a0And only the monetary<\/em> form of\u00a0resources – (makes that rubbing motion with his thumb and forefinger).<\/p>\n

It seems that if we are approached differently – from a more whole and mindful method of asking for help, that we will then consider the other facets.<\/p>\n

But you can do this regardless of how you are asked.<\/p>\n

\"FlaskWhen considering giving, look at the flask as a whole. \u00a0Consider what’s in it and what is meaningful for you. \u00a0Or at least, what do you have the most of? \u00a0Here’s a simple guide to help those that may want to give more, but don’t know how to approach it. \u00a0It has proven helpful for those seeking balance.<\/p>\n

Time<\/h2>\n

This may garner the largest eye roll. \u00a0When we think of time we think of spending countless hours doing what we don’t want to do, and doing for those that may not even want us to do it. \u00a0It doesn’t have to be like that. \u00a0If you’re Quality Time person like me, then time is even more important. \u00a0In considering giving time, it can be given with the quality that you are accustomed to giving and receiving – you just have to play a bigger part in the choosing. \u00a0Yes, just like what we see in coaching, a little effort and control at the beginning gets you a lot more for less effort. \u00a0Try matching your skills to what you are giving, ask some probing questions. \u00a0You may have to get past the charity’s initial contact to have these questions answered, but the end result is more meaningful help for the charity, and a better experience for you.<\/p>\n

Energy<\/h2>\n

You may think this is built into Time or Resources but it’s not. \u00a0The Energy<\/em> you expend on a charity may not have a large Time component. \u00a0Imagine those making calls or spending a small amount of time comforting others – it’s a very emotionally charged and intense event, but may not last long or cost a dime*. \u00a0On the Energy meter it may rank high, and in some cases drain most of the tank. \u00a0It also, and for most probably will, have the paradoxical effect of both draining and filling the Energy tank at the same time. \u00a0In balance coaching you experience a lot of win\/win, but this is a win\/win\/win. \u00a0That’s a lot of win. \u00a0Maybe a military-grade level of win. \u00a0I don’t know, I’m not qualified to rate that properly.<\/p>\n

Resources<\/h2>\n

This one we know – it’s the knee jerk reaction to giving. \u00a0But as I say in coaching when using the Balance Sheet, there’s more to resources than just money. \u00a0Perhaps you have a resource you can lend out? \u00a0Driving your car, or dropping off goods may be considered resources, but they aren’t wholly monetary. \u00a0You may have access to a resource through your work, a meeting room, or an entire fleet of vehicles. \u00a0You may have tools to lend in the summer, a pickup truck with lots of bed\u00a0room you never use. \u00a0All resources.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Charity Choices<\/h2>\n

Choosing a charity can make a huge difference in the experience and ultimately just how much of your efforts reach those who need it most. \u00a0Researching a charity is always a good idea. \u00a0Like dating and job seeking (a parallel I draw often when I write about dating at Only A Glance), knowing someone in the transaction makes a huge difference. \u00a0If you’ve never given to a charity** talk to your friends, families and mentors and ask them how they give and participate. \u00a0If you’re part of a church then you probably have many avenues already in place. \u00a0Donating your time and\/or energy and\/or resources can be a very rewarding\u00a0endeavor. \u00a0Making a good, meaningful fit can mean\u00a0the difference between a one-time draining transaction or something you do as part of seeking and maintaining balance. \u00a0I want to help you do the latter.<\/p>\n

Help me help you do the latter.<\/p>\n

– Not Tom Cruise in Jerry McGuire<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*\u00a0Yes, time is money, and there is opportunity cost in everything, but we are talking pure time to separate\u00a0things here, in the predictable and easy to understand format of Alchemy For Life.<\/p>\n

** See, you did it again? \u00a0I said “given to a charity” and you thought “money.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Donations When we think of donating to the poor or those in need we almost always exclusively think of it as monetary. \u00a0Right? “Did you make a donation?” “No, I didn’t give any money,” you think in response to the question. \u00a0Or, more likely, “Yes of course I gave a few dollars here and there!” […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":191,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[4,23,21,20,24,15],"class_list":["post-189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-balance-wisdom","tag-balance","tag-charity","tag-christmas","tag-holidays","tag-self-help","tag-stuff-you-can-do"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t