Fulfilled to Overflowing
Imagine you have a reservoir inside you that is your container for holding aliveness, vitality, love, etc., whatever you want to call it. From this tank, you can give this energy in different forms to people, to work, to time, and you can also spend it throughout the day doing different things that deplete you energetically, such as worrying. The most common form of this I see is in giving ourselves away to other people.
Most people I work with initially have pretty empty reservoirs. They keep giving and giving, trying to give enough so that others will fill them up in return. This is the game we are all taught to play: “If you give enough you will get it back.” I don’t find that this game works very well and it is based on a false premise, the idea that others can fill you up.I propose a new game for us all to play called “Fulfilled to Overflowing.” In this game, it is my job to fill myself up, to fill up my own tank of aliveness, to take care of myself, and to give myself all I need for a full tank of love and vitality for myself.
In this game, I take care of my needs, and I am not waiting for others to see my value and do it for me. I may do this by giving myself time, doing things that fulfill me, even asking others for what I need so that I can be filled. In doing so I am taking full, 100% responsibility for my tank being full. This means not blaming others when my tank is not full.
Once my tank is full, once my needs are met at all levels, what happens then is my tank starts to overflow, and I have more than I need of everything, in particular love. From this perspective, I can give abundantly from my excess without tapping into my reserve. I never have to tap into my reserve because I am always filling myself up with what I need.
Also from this perspective, what I give is a pure gift, with no recompense required. I am giving away my excess, and I don’t need anybody to fill me. This abundance and generosity is a truly glorious position to come from.
It takes practice and focus to do this; you have to be attentive to your own tank first. Our culture calls this selfish, but I have never seen anyone who is truly generous giving from an empty tank. When we give from an empty tank, we always want something back.
True generosity comes from filling your own tank and giving freely from the abundance of love you generate.Breaking out of the cultural trap of giving yourself away takes courage and intent.
What is your first step toward “Fulfilled to Overflowing”?