We are a culture deeply immersed in materialism and influenced by the promotion of sales like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The media tries to focus us on buying things we don’t need, just for the sake of spending money.

With only 10 days left, how are you feeling about shopping for Christmas? Are you feeling inspired, alive and uplifted or worried, stressed and exhausted?

Both giving and receiving play vital roles in maintaining happiness, prosperity and radiant health in your body and in your life. Giving and receiving create a dynamic flow of energy between you and the Universe.

The more you give the more you receive, because as you do you keep the abundance of Universal energy flowing in your life. Stopping this circulation of energy is like stopping the circulation of blood in the body. It stagnates and clogs.

So why can giving and receiving leave us feeling exhausted and spent (pardon the pun)? You must look at your intention or reason behind your giving.

If giving has been a struggle this holiday season, I suggest you ask yourself the following questions:

• Why am I giving to this person in the first place?
• Am I giving from a place of love and abundance or duty and obligation?
• How comfortable is it for me to receive from others? Does receiving from others feel tight and constricting or open and expansive?
• Does my giving and receiving create feelings of gratitude, joy and love or obligation, overextension and discomfort?

When you give from a place of love and abundance, your energy is open and expansive. It feels good! From this “feel good place” you abundantly attract good things back to you in return. This is a natural law and a Universal flow.

When you give from a place of duty and obligation or with attachments and expectations, you’re left feeling tight and constricted. The constricting energies shut off the flow from the Universe. It’s difficult and exhausting to give and receive from this place.

To feel expanded, energized and uplifted, your reason for giving must come without attachments and from a giving heart.

You don’t need to spend money to unconditionally give from your heart. Simple acts of kindness like offering a blessing, prayer, acknowledgment or smile has the same beneficial effect for both the giver and receiver as any material item, maybe even more. Remember, it’s the energy or feeling behind the act that is most important.

And, there’s an added benefit too! Giving from the heart can actually improve your immune system and increase the production of serotonin in your body. Not only for the giver and the receiver but for anyone who may be witnessing the act, as their feelings are being lifted too. 

This season, make a commitment to give from your heart whenever you can. And in turn, fully receive everything that is given in return to you. By doing so you are engaging with the Universal flow of gratitude, abundance and love.