By Tanya Joines and Scott L. Pilgrim

Recently someone told me they were worried that if they become wealthy, they would become greedy and engrossed within their own wealth. This got me thinking about how giving back is such an amazing gesture not only for the person or organization you are supporting but also for yourself.

I began to tell them about how through my spiritual and personal growth journey, I have learnt the importance and the affect giving back has and I'm not just talking about money here. I have recently joined a community of like-minded individuals who are each after a change in their life and have the desire to create wealth and help others do the same. Through this community I am experiencing growth like never before through the guidance of my peers and the online personal development course they have created.

So I look back a few months at how naive and selfish I was. It's a pretty bold statement but I look back and see myself living off my partners mining wage and stressing about how we don't have enough money! You know the people who stand outside the supermarket or mall with a box jingling with coins asking for very little? Well I would look at them and think good on them...but ugh my money is way in the bottom of my purse and I just don't have time to stop and get it out for them. Or I was consumed in my own "poverty" and would say to myself no I need that, we struggle as it is. But isn't funny how you don't think twice about spending $2-4 on chocolate or a red bull at the service station? And you still manage to survive? Hah doesn't it sound ridiculous?

I recently gave myself the "challenge" of making sure I gave something to each charity that came my way, even if it's the only silver coins I have left in my purse..it counts. Now I'm not saying I join up to every charity advertised on TV for $30 a month! But to those who are out there in our communities having a sausage sizzle or selling some sort of pin or just jingling the box for a good cause. Can you imagine how much money these people could raise if EVERY person that walked by put in their last $1 or even 50 cents? No matter how much it is, it's something! Something to help someone or some cause.

I can't say I'm no longer selfish because MAN does it feel good when you rest your head on the pillow at night and think about how you have made a difference. I love it! Even the feeling of a connection between you and that person holding the jingling bucket...you look at each other and smile and it seriously warms my heart just thinking about it. I didn't realize how many of these causes are actively asking for help out there...funny how you don't notice what you don't want to see. And you know what? I still manage to survive giving away these coins I told myself I needed before. Some things will just always find a way to work themselves out.

Giving back isn't just money, it's helping. Whether that's picking up rubbish at your local park, or volunteering for a project or perhaps you are connecting with people who ask for help. I just wrote that sentence and decided my next mission is to dedicate time to do those things I have mentioned! (There is always room for improvement!) But I can speak about one of those subjects and it's helping people. I have chosen to join this community so I can make a difference in someone getting themselves out of their unwanted situation. I speak to people who want to make a change in their lives and I do my best to assist them. Sometimes what I can offer is not right for them and that's fine but when I do..it's the best feeling in the world! I guess I subconsciously did this before as well, through giving advice and trying to make others happy. Now, I have greater access to people who desire change and I can provide a vehicle for them to make the changes they need.