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The
Giving
Heart
Unlocking the Transformative Powerof Generosity in Our Lives
M.J. Ryan
foreword by Sylvia Boorstein
CONARI PRESS
Berkeley, California
Copyright © 2000 by Conari Press.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in
any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of
brief quotations in critical articles or reviews. For information, contact:
Conari Press, 2550 Ninth Street, Suite 101,
Berkeley, California 94710-2551.
Conari Press books are distributed by Publishers Group West.
ISBN: 1-57324-521-6
Cover Illustration: Roger MontoyaCover Art Direction: Ame BeanlandBook Design: Suzanne Albertson
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOCINC-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Ryan, M. J. (Mary Jane), 1952-
The giving heart : unlocking the transformative power of generosity
in your life / M.J. Ryan, foreword by Sylvia Boorstein.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 1-57324-521-6
1. Generosity. I. Title.
BJ1533.G4 R93 2000
177′.7—dc21
00-009922
Printed in the United States of America on recycled paper.
00 01 02 03 RRD NW 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
In honor of
all my teachers
of the heart
particularly my father
We make a living by what we get, but wemake a life by what we give.
—NORMAN MACESWAN
The Giving Heart
Giving Is a Great Mood Elevator
Giving Helps Us Experience Our Connection with Others
Giving Allows Us to Look Deeply at Ourselves
Generosity Helps Us See There Is No Difference Between Giving and Receiving
Giving Fills Us Like Getting Cannot
Giving Allows Us to Offer Our Unique Gifts
Generosity Connects Us to Nature
Giving Allows Us to Experience Oneness
Generosity Helps Us Glimpse the Truth about Life
We Are Inherently Generous
Giving Is Easy When We Go with the Grain
To Give Is to Live
We Are Self-Renewing Systems
Generosity Comes in Many Forms
We Can Make a Difference
Whatever We Do, We Do for Ourselves
Gratitude and Generosity Are Indivisible
We Are Both Generous and Withholding
We Can Unblock Our Giving
You Can't Say Yes if You Can't Say No
True Giving Means Letting Go of Control
If You Give, You Will Be Provided For
Let Go of the Ledger Sheet
You Never Know What the Effects of Your Actions Will Be
All True Giving Is Loving
Think Positive!
Strive for Balance
It's Both an Inside
