I am writing this month’s newsletter having just come home
to Los Angeles after a two-week trip to the West African
country of Nigeria. This is my father’s birthplace, and we
returned as a family after not having been for almost 25
years. It is so difficult to describe the experience. Nigeria is
in many ways a beautiful country. The people we met were
warm and welcoming and I was awed by the fierce sense of
family and generosity of spirit. It is also, however, a country
ravaged by corruption, poverty, hunger, illness and the
constant struggle to meet even the most basic of needs. As
I empty my suitcase, throwing clothes in the washing
machine, lights on throughout the house and music playing on
the stereo in the living room, I think of the children we met
who walk over two miles each way, every day, to collect
river water that is very likely contaminated. The idea of
turning on a tap and having any water, let alone hot water,
come out of it, is completely foreign to most of the
population. Almost everything is done outside – cooking,
washing, bathing – so as to utilize any available daylight. It
is impossible not to feel shame at how much I take for
granted, and yet to simultaneously breathe a sigh of relief
that my father “escaped”. That he built a life in the US. That
my brother, sister and I were given every opportunity that
this country affords.
The truth is that we don’t have to travel as far as Africa to
get in touch with how very lucky we are. We all know that
there are countless people and organizations that desperately
need our help. Perhaps you have a particular charity that is
close to your heart, a cause over which you would love to
wave a magic wand and change for the better. Most of us
would love to make a difference in the world. However, we
don’t give much of our time because we are so busy working
for a living. We don’t give much of our money because we
feel like we aren’t even making enough to cover our own
needs.
As individuals, we have an overwhelming tendency to focus
on scarcity. We cling to every penny we earn, constantly
worrying about not having enough. How can we even begin
to think about giving money away when we are not even sure
we can cover our own bills? Staying stuck in this negative
mental cycle is a large part of what keeps us stuck
financially. This month I want to share an important and
powerful financial principle, that when implemented will
almost magically get you out of this financial rut: Automatic
Tithing.
Tithing is the spiritual principle of giving some of what you
receive. Many of us have heard of tithing in the context of a
particular religion. It is, however, a term that encompasses
all charitable giving, and is not limited to religious
organizations.
There is a wonderful chapter on tithing in a book I
recommend to everyone called “The Automatic Millionaire” by
David Bach. In it he states: “Although you should give
simply for the sake of giving, the reality is that abundance
tends to flow back to those who give. The more you give,
the more comes back to you. It is the flow of abundance that
brings us more joy, more love, more wealth, and more
meaning in our lives. Generally speaking, the more you
give, the wealthier you feel. And it’s not just a feeling. As
strange as it may seem, the truth is that money often flows
faster to those who give. Why? Because givers attract
abundance into their lives rather than scarcity.” It is clear
that Mr. Bach includes the concept of tithing in his book,
because building wealth is not just about the difference you
will make in your own life: it is also about the difference you
will make in the lives of others.
By now you probably have a list of New Years’ resolutions. I
would like to encourage you to add one more. Make a
commitment to give a percentage of everything you earn in
2006 to a charity or charities of your choice. It doesn’t
matter how much. It’s okay to start small. The percentage
can always grow. Just decide in advance what it is going to
be and, whenever you receive a paycheck, whether from an
acting job or a day job, immediately make the appropriate
donation. The key is that you do it right away! If you wait
until the end of the year, no matter how good your
intentions, you will generally find there is nothing left to give.
Tithing is n ot a completely selfless act - doing it will make
you feel great, and provides a sense of control that comes
with exercising the power to do what you want with your
money. You will know that you are making the choice NOW
to do good in the world. That knowledge alone will give you
an energy and positive spirit that cannot help but affect every
area of your life.
