02/02/26
STORY
A few summers ago, I picked up my daughter from camp.
On the drive home, she casually told me about her day.
At lunch, she noticed one of her friends didn’t have a lunch bag.
Her parents had forgotten to pack it.
So my daughter gave her half of her turkey sandwich.
What stayed with me wasn’t what she did.
It was how she told the story.
No buildup.
No pride.
No waiting for praise.
She said it the same way she might mention the weather.
That’s when it hit me.
This is what real giving looks like.
Giving without expectation.
Without recognition.
Without needing to feel good about it.
She didn’t help to be seen.
She helped because it felt right.
That’s the invitation this week.
Give for the sake of giving.
Give because it’s the right thing to do.
Give without expecting anything in return.
That kind of giving speaks for itself.
OBSERVATION
Research shows that people who give to others experience greater happiness than those who spend solely on themselves, especially when that giving is voluntary and free of expectation. Studies find that generosity rooted in genuine care, not recognition or reward, is what most strongly enhances well-being.
(Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, “Prosocial spending and well-being: cross-cultural evidence for a psychological universal”, 2013).
STRATEGY
This week, I invite you to give without expecting anything in return.
When an opportunity arises to help someone…
Notice if your mind is thinking about what you get out of it.
Drop that immediately.
Then, proceed to help without the expectation of praise, recognition, or validation.
Just give.
Give for the sake of giving.
Rooting for you,
Jay (inviting you to give)
Global keynote speaker
Host of the “Unstuck” podcast
Father to an amazing, loving, and kind young lady