GIVING A PORTION OF OUR INCOME
This principle can be called the 'tithe', a 'portion', a 'percentage', or 'first fruits'. This principle is Biblically tied, written about in most every wealth book, and, for many, has become the only way to live and be financially successful. Many run from this idea because they are too short on income as it is. They cannot imagine how to begin to give any of their income away. But, the formula is actually amazing as you watch it unfold!
The principle is based on 10%. Financial books or experts will say "Give 10%, Save 10% and spend the rest. Others will say "Give 10%, Save 10%, Invest 10% and spend the rest." But, the majority always begins with the "give" principle first.
So, how do we begin? Who do we choose to receive this 'portion'? How will we survive on less than we have right now? Is this principle actually THAT important? Can we become successful and wealthy without the "giving" principle?
If you have never practiced this 'tithe', then you may feel the need to begin with 1% or 2% or 5%. If you have already begun there, then this may be the time you raise the amount to 10% and really experience your life when practicing this weekly, joyfully, and enthusiastically! And if you have been in the habit of tithing your 10%, then this may be the time for you to really jump in and raise your tithe! You may want to experience life in the category of a 12% tithe, a 15% tithe or a 20% tithe! I say "experience life in the category of 12, 15, or 20" because life takes an incredible jump when you go above the 10%!!!
Are there actually people who go above 20%??? Wow! Yes, there are! And the only ones I know who have been so wild as to experiment with this going 'way above' are millionaires! And if you are putting God into the gifting, I will say it this way. You cannot outgive God!
This principle is actually what gave me the idea for Project Purpose a year ago. I realized when the economy began to crumble, that everyone...absolutely everyone needed to know this principle and begin to practice it! I told my son, Brandt, that just this one principle would make so much difference to so many people's lives during this time! It was a principle that we had lived with for years and years. And when we went to the library and began to go through wealth books, it was there! Book after book discussed this principle. We were designed to be grateful, giving and loving people and when we are, wonderful things begin to happen!
If you don't have enough money, GIVE! If you have money, but need more, GIVE! If you have lots of money, GIVE! But, remember to give money FOR GOOD!
With HEARTS OF PURPOSE...
Patti Roney
Coach
I am introducing the Gratitude Board as something you may take the entire 90 days to accomplish!
We are told to build dream boards and that they actually work in unexplainable ways. Many have built theirs and have written their goals, but most have not!
The Gratitude Board is the opposite of our Dream Board. We need to build BOTH!!! One is the gifts and accomplishments we have already been given and the other is the dreams and requests of where we want to go. They are BOTH important!
You may actually want to prepare 3 separate boards during this project. Make them absolutely beautiful whether they are done on foam boards for your wall in your office or on your computer!
#1 Board is your Gratitude Board
This board should be a photo or drawing or reflection of as many things as possible that you are finding you are grateful for! You may put up family photos, a picture of yourself at your best, the sun or sea or mountains, animals, awards, pin level leters from Corporate, trips you have taken, athletic achievements, your home, your car, the things you love most in your life. PUT GRATITUDE BOARD OR THANK YOU at the top or somewhere on the board, so you are grateful every time you look at this board or screen.
#2 Board is your Dream Board
This board is where you are headed - where you want to go in the next year, 5 years, 10 years and beyond, with your life. As above, be very visual about creating this board or screen! Take a few minutes or a couple hours on weekends to put these boards together and don't rush! You may want two sets - one on your computer and one set in your office for everyone to see! And YES, this works! The dream board is giving your brain a path to work on and God your desires. And YOU begin to embrace the vision when you are grateful for all you have been given! You realize that the dream board is taking life to the next level and to fill the next gratitude board!
#3 Board is your blank board - YOUR NEXT GRATITUDE BOARD!
As you fill Board #1 and make it as awesome as can be, you need to have a 2nd one to begin to fill. As you begin to see the dreams accomplished from your Dream Board, you can now move them to your blank board - Gratitude Board #2. It's not about pride. It's about the excitement of life and the gifts and accomplishments we are so grateful for and sharing with others!!!
Buy or Make wonderful note cards or even design one of today's eCards in your USANAToday website. We are going to write 90 Gratitude Letters! Yes, you are a couple behind already! Smile!
Each day, whether it is at the beginning of your day while you are writing in your journals, or maybe later in the day or right before bed, we are going to write someone a thank you note.
We find that in our heart we are full of wonderful thoughts about people that we may never say...or at least not often enough. These letters may be letters that you have written in your mind a thousand times, but you have never taken the time to sit down and put it on paper.
Begin to make your list of who these notes should go to. Here are some thoughts for you.
Family
Friends
Downline
Customers
Church Family
USANA Family
Teachers/Trainers
Prospects
Students
These don't have to be long or take too much of your time, but what you invest in this exercise will pay you back over and over and over again.
If you have your box of notes sitting with your journal, and you are writing in your journal about someone you are grateful for that day, it's just a natural process to reach for the note card and write that person a note at the same time.
Be generous with your comments, don't hold back! Be truthful and don't say things you don't mean. And don't send the card with expectations of what you might receive back. Just send them because you want to.
Yes you can use email, but there is something very very special about handwritten letters with a real stamp and received in the mail. So, if at all possible, choose "snail mail".
Enjoy adding these letters to your day and to your time of Gratitude!
If you have heard me speak in the recent months, then you may already be one step ahead on this project as I have been speaking about The Gratitude Journal. If you haven't already done this, your first assignment is to go purchase or make yourselves a beautiful Gratitude Journal for this project. Make it so fabulous that you love picking it up! It should represent the "best" to you. If you are a guy, you probably love real leather and Barnes and Noble always has great leather journals from around the world. Just make sure this journal makes you feel excited just to pick it up and have the privilege of writing in it. If money is a concern, then make it from whatever you have at home! It's yours and can be anything you want it to be.
Every day, before you do anything else, spend 10 to 30 minutes with this journal.
RULES -- For our project, these rules apply to your journaling.
#1 -- Don't add negatives to your journaling. In other words, don't say "I am so grateful for my home, but wish it were painted and fixed up." You have just gone right back to the opposite of gratitude. Maybe you could say it like this. "I am so grateful for my home! I love looking forward to painting it and fixing it up!"
#2 -- Don't say one thing that is gratitude and 10 that are requests on the page. NOT - "I am so grateful for USANA. It's so much fun. But, I need 10 new customers, 4 new distributors, to go Platinum, to help my friend want to join me, to make $1,000/week this year, etc." YES - "I am so grateful for USANA! It is so much fun! I'm excited to help customers, train distributors, build a team, and be part of this vision! I'm so grateful for this amazing opportunity!"
If you don't have enough money, GIVE! If you have money, but need more, GIVE! If you have lots of money, GIVE! But, remember to give money FOR GOOD!
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