No strings attached except the ones you choose to tie

Koontz makes the point in his spooky bestselling novel that trees are so majestic, so noble. They give and give to us, fruit, nuts, beauty, shade, lumber, oxygen, and take nothing in return.

What a lovely example of nature’s generosity.

Because trees don’t keep score, save for the rings in their trunks. They don’t get all cagey and chintzy when people seek their gifts. Abundance flows freely in all directions.

Meanwhile, humans withhold ourselves from the joy of giving all the time.

Neuroscientists have actually conducted multiple studies which found the ways that our brains actually rein in our generous tendencies. One researcher in particular showed that certain parts of our prefrontal cortex act to inhibit our inherent tendency to behave in ways that benefit others.

This response acts as a general stinginess signal, so to speak. And from an evolutionary perspective, it makes sense. The human brain has evolved to puts limits on our giving out of the primal fear that we might deprive ourselves of the basic resources we need to survive.

If we offer our wooly mammoth coat our friend in the cave next door, then we will surely freeze into a slab of ice.

But with the exception of a few public figures, we are no longer caveman. We live in a world with public sanitation and free wifi and gluten free chocolate covered crickets. Suffice it to say, we can afford to be generous. The grip of scarcity no longer has to grip our primitive hearts.

Each of us can be like the trees, giving of ourselves abundantly, taking nothing in return, grateful for the chance to share our gifts.

Our ego will definitely have a hard time accepting this behavior. But the truth is, it’s less work than we think. Generosity, like most virtuous behavior, is less about time and labor and more about attention and intention.

Adrienne puts it best her book about emergent strategy:

Our existence, who and how we are, is in and of itself a contribution to the people and place around us. And our quality of life and our survival are tied to how authentic and generous the connections are between us and the people and place we live with and in.

Next time your caveman brain tries to stop you from being generous, remind yourself that the forest will provide.There’s always more where that came from. 

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
Have you considered the sweet relief of setting aside your scorecard?