A Big Step Toward Being a Net Positive
Every Monday, we do a Proof of Living – a practical action that reminds us life is meant to be lived actively, not merely observed passively.
Proof of Living is about momentum. It is about initiative. It is about starting the week with intention rather than drifting into it.
It is also about opening ourselves to new energy, new perspective, new possibilities, and a stronger sense of who we want to be.
This week’s Proof of Living is a bold one:
This Week’s Challenge
Think of your favorite charity or nonprofit.
If you don’t have one, find one.
Then donate $100.
As you write the check or make the donation, say out loud ten times:
“Freely I give, and freely I receive.”
That’s it.
Simple. Clear. Powerful.
Why This Matters
Many people want a better life while unconsciously gripping too tightly.
They hold back generosity.
They hold back trust.
They hold back enthusiasm.
They hold back optimism.
They hold back action.
Then they wonder why life feels stalled, stale, or strangely closed off.
This exercise interrupts that pattern.
When you give intentionally, you are doing more than helping a cause. You are making a statement about identity:
I am not ruled by fear.
I am not trapped in scarcity.
I am someone who contributes.
I am someone who moves energy outward.
That matters.
Why $100?
Because it is enough to feel meaningful.
Ten dollars may be easy to dismiss.
Twenty may feel routine.
But $100 usually gets attention.
It asks something of you.
That tension is part of the exercise.
Growth often begins when something is meaningful enough to be noticed.
If $100 is not appropriate for your situation, adjust responsibly.
The deeper point is not the exact amount. The deeper point is to give in a way that feels intentional, real, and slightly courageous.
Why Say the Words Out Loud?
Because words shape mindset.
“Freely I give, and freely I receive.”
That phrase challenges a common hidden belief: that giving means losing.
Not necessarily.
Giving can create:
- gratitude
- connection
- self-respect
- abundance thinking
- emotional expansion
- stronger alignment with the person you want to be
And receiving is not selfish when it includes joy, opportunity, love, support, wisdom, or unexpected blessings.
Many people are comfortable receiving but hesitant giving.
Others give constantly but resist receiving.
Healthy flow includes both.
Why This Is a Net Positive Move
If your purpose is to become more of a Net Positive, then this is a direct route.
You help an organization doing needed work.
You strengthen your own identity.
You begin the week with generosity instead of complaint.
You replace hesitation with action.
That is how upward weeks begin.
What to Notice This Week
After doing this exercise, observe:
- Do you feel prouder?
- More purposeful?
- More energized?
- More open to opportunity?
- More connected to life beyond yourself?
Those signals matter.
BEST in Small Doses™
A rising tide lifts all ships.
Be the rising tide.
A Closing Consideration
This Monday, do not merely start the week.
Initiate the week. Give with freedom.
Receive with gratitude.
And prove to yourself – again- that you are alive, engaged, vital, and becoming more of a Net Positive.
