THE JOY FORMULA: Why Giving Is Living

Inspired by: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” – Acts 20: 35

“Joy does not come from having more. Joy comes from becoming more and giving more. A life that only takes will never taste true happiness.” – Abundant Robert K. AWOLUGUTU

THE MANYORO SECRET TO JOY
In Manyoro, the happiest man is not the man with the biggest maize farm. He is the man whose farm feeds the whole village. The man who only eats alone never knows true sweetness.”

The world told us, “Get more, be happy. Be a millionaire, be happy. Be famous, be happy. But I am living proof. I found joy not by getting, but by giving my words. Through my articles, my talent, knowledge, and expertise are shared with the world. Writing fills my heart with joy and happiness.

So why does writing, which takes my sleep, my data, and time, bring me joy? Because Giving is Living.

3 LIES ABOUT HAPPINESS THAT KEEP GHANA SAD

Happiness Is A Destination: “When I get to Kumasi, I will be happy.” “When I get a posh car, I will be happy.” “When I become a billionaire, I will be happy.” We postpone joy. But happiness is not external. It is within you, waiting to be shared.

Happiness Is About Getting: We think material wealth will make us happy. Get more money, more expensive clothes, and more followers, and we will be happy. Wrong. The heart that only collects becomes a dam. Stagnant water becomes stale. Hearts that don’t give become bitter.

Happiness Is For The Big: You don’t need to be rich to help. You don’t need to be big to give joy. You can shine right where you are. A poor man who shares even the little he has with others is better than a rich man who is stingy.

THE JOY FORMULA – 3 WAYS GIVERS LIVE HAPPIER

Givers Grow: Writing fosters growth. Each time I write, I increase in knowledge and experience. When I give wisdom, my wisdom multiplies. The teacher is always the greatest student. Writing clothes me with joy. Writing grows me every time I write.

Givers Are Remembered: No one in Manyoro remembers what Nkrumah wore; but we remember the schools he built. We remember Chinua Achebe and Ngugi Wa Thiong’o for their books. Their wisdom is shared in their books.

My articles are my gifts to the world. My words will outlive my life. Long after I am gone, my words will remain. Giving builds legacy. That’s how I want to be remembered – through my books and articles.

Givers Connect To God: God is a perfect example of a Giver. “For God so Loved the world that He gave…” When we give we are behaving like our heavenly Father; we honour Him. There couldn’t be any better connection between a Father and child than this. That connection is the source of true joy.

PRACTICAL WAYS TO LIVE THE GIVING LIFE DAILY

Give Your Light: Be a light for others. A word of encouragement may end someone’s darkness. Let someone breath easier because of your help.

Give Your Hand: Be a helpful person. Help someone carry their load. Open the door for someone. Buy data for a student to access the internet. Joy hides in the hands that help.

Give Your Knowledge: This is my highest calling. My knowledge is shared through my books and articles. Talent that isn’t shared is wasted. A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. In fact, the more you light, the brighter you become.

CONCLUSION
From Manyoro to Accra, Ghana is not poor because we have little. Ghana is sad because we hold too tight what little we have.

When I started writing articles, most of them ended in the trashcan. I persisted. Today I have published more. That is the miracle of giving. The more you give, the more you have. Giving starts the receiving process.

Final Charge: Don’t search for joy. Give more of yourself and joy follows. Give your smile, your time, your word, your bread. These will return to you in multiples. If you want money, give money to the people; if you want happiness, make someone happy. Writing brings joy. Because giving brings joy.

Final Question: Will you live as a collector who is always sad, or as a giver who is always joyful?

QUOTES FROM THE AUTHOR

1. “Joy does not come from having more. Joy comes from becoming more and giving more.”
2. “A life that only takes will never taste true happiness.”
3. “The happiest man in Manyoro is not the man with the biggest farm, but the man whose farm feeds the whole village.”
4. “You don’t need to be big to give joy. Even a small toffee shared can sweeten a heart.”
5. “Don’t search for joy. Give your way into joy.”
6. “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. In fact, it becomes brighter.”
7. “Together we give, together we transform.”

Yours in inspiration,
Abundant Robert K. AWOLUGUTU
Writer & Author