Summary

The author discusses the transition from a mindset of receiving to one of giving, emphasizing the fulfillment found in generosity over the pursuit of personal gain.

Abstract

The article "Why I Shifted My Focus From Receiving to Giving" delves into the author's personal journey of prioritizing generosity over accumulation. Initially, the human mind is preoccupied with basic survival needs such as food, water, shelter, security, and love. However, once these needs are satisfied, the author observes a societal tendency towards greed and an insatiable desire for more, leading to a cycle of dissatisfaction. The author reflects on the concept of minimalism and the idea that less can be more, drawing insights from various sources including Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now." Despite the natural inclination to want more, the author advocates for confronting these desires and recognizing when one has enough. This shift is particularly evident in the author's approach to selling their first book, where they chose to sell it for $1, a price that reflects the value of sharing their message over profit maximization. The author argues that true giving can only occur once basic needs are met and encourages readers to find ways to give back, suggesting that this approach leads to a more fulfilling life compared to constantly seeking to receive.

Opinions

The author believes that the pursuit of more, beyond meeting basic needs, leads to a societal obsession with accumulation and dissatisfaction.
The article suggests that the human mind's focus on survival needs is natural, but the subsequent greed for excess is not inherently selfish, just misguided.
The author has a fascination with the minimalist philosophy, as seen in their study of related literature and videos, and applies this to their writing career.
There is an internal conflict presented between the desire for financial success from writing and the intrinsic value of sharing knowledge and experiences.
The author posits that setting a low price for their book is an act of giving, despite the conventional expectation of higher profits from publishing.
The author emphasizes that giving back is only truly possible and meaningful once one's basic needs are met.
The author encourages readers to find their own ways to give, whether through their profession or other means, and to focus on the fulfillment that comes from generosity rather than the disappointment that can come from seeking to receive.

Why I Shifted My Focus From Receiving to Giving

Our survival instincts seek support through receiving, but we need to give to thrive

It is incredible how self-centered the human mind is.

The mind is primarily focused on a few things before anything else: food, water, and shelter. After that, it seeks security, then love (see Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs).

The mind is not selfish for wanting these things. These things are necessary for our survival and well-being. After that, however, is where it gets too needy.

When we are set with those prerequisites, we start to get greedy. We want more: more money, more friends, more respect, more attention, more stuff. The pursuit of more becomes never-ending and despite our needs being met — which should all but guarantee our happiness and peace of mind — we feel less than whole.

This is a problem that is quietly plaguing modern society. Everyone is so caught up in the chase that they don’t even realize how rotted their insides are becoming.

The idea of less being more is one I have become fascinated over and can’t stop studying. Whether it is the seemingly hundreds of YouTube videos on the matter or books such as “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle, I continue to find new revelations — both with society and within myself.

I, of course, have battled wanting more in my time as well. It is a natural feeling of the human mind — one that all humans face. Some give in to the mind’s wants and some confront them, telling it that they have enough.

For months now, I have been writing here on Medium in hopes of building towards a sustainable income through writing. On this specific platform, there is little guilt in the pursuit of money — readers have already paid a monthly fee to read articles and whether they click on your work is up to them. There is no selling involved outside concocting an eye-grabbing title.

Where the inner conflict starts to arise is when trying to sell writing elsewhere.

Earlier this year, I published my first book, which is focused on desire, happiness, and seeking fulfillment. It is aimed at younger people — like myself — as I am hoping to help others discover what I have discovered through my experiences in the past year.

My brain automatically wanted to sell this book for anywhere between $10–$15, which is the standard price for a book. As someone looking to make a living off of writing, I obviously wanted to make money from this book right away.

Deep down, though, I knew I shouldn’t charge that much for this book. I would like to sell it for $1.

You may think, “Dylan, how can you classify selling a book, even if it’s for $1, as giving?” I do agree that, on its face, selling something for any price is not necessarily “giving.” I also feel that the time spent on researching and writing this book would justify setting it at a much higher price point.

I have learned, though, that seeking money through my writing will only disappoint me. If I write 10 books that barely sell or make any money, I will probably get sick of writing books and move onto something else.

Selling books is not my goal, though.

I want to get my message out there and selling books for cheap — essentially giving them away — will fall into line with my true desires. I believe that, even with a low price point, I will make enough money to meet those basic needs.

Giving is only possible once those initial needs are met. In the grand scheme of things, everything past those initial needs is excess. We should be trimming excess at any point we can.

In your life, maybe low-balling your skillset is not how you can best give back. Maybe it’s donating 10% of your paycheck or giving away your time at a local food pantry.

Either way, giving is much more fulfilling than receiving. Once you have met your needs, start to look at ways to trim that excess and give as much as possible.

It doesn’t have to be related to writing or work in any way, either. Looking for others to give to you will leave you disappointed. The only way to be disappointed while giving to someone is if they don’t accept it. There’s nothing you can do but try, though.

Try to shift your mindset to that of a giver instead of a receiver. It will improve your quality and life and that of those around you.