Becoming charitable is more than simply donating a few goods to a local charity shop; it is in fact a much deeper change with the self. The change to become more charitable can affect us all at a deep level and can transform the way we live and work.
The phrase, ‘charity begins at home’, is not just taking care of one’s own business. The phrase is a very good place to start for there is little that one can do for others if you have not forgiven yourself. This may involve soul searching and letting go of guilt or anger and not judging yourself anymore. This is you becoming charitable with yourself.
This step then leads to others; we stop judging others and thus become charitable towards family, friends and strangers. To suspend judgement in any situation is true charity and allows prejudice of all kinds to fall away. This liberates both parties and we can now see the true power of becoming charitable.
The next step is then to offer charity in the more well known ways. Goods and money can be given to charitable organizations but we can still become charitable by offering our time and perhaps, our expertise. If you are good at some area of business, for example, then one can offer this service to a charitable organisation. Even if you think you have no skills then you can always offer your time at a charity store or with a charitable project.
We can thus see that becoming charitable is an extension that starts with charity towards the self, to family, to friends and then into the neighborhood and the world. Becoming charitable thus can be a world changing phenomenon, if there is enough momentum.
We can also see that becoming charitable does not necessarily involve gods or money and can in fact be the utilization of skills and time. Even without these attributes, becoming charitable can be simply the suspension of judgement and an opening towards the person or situation before you.
Becoming charitable is not a way to allow for people to walk over you or for people to take advantage of you. This would negate the point of the first step, where you are charitable with yourself. It is OK to say, ‘no’ and you should never feel guilt for doing so; do not let charity become martyrdom!
So, start with charity at home, i.e. the self and then expand this notion and watch as your path transforms before you.
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