As I was walking into a local market, a homeless woman stopped me. I had seen her from afar, talking to herself, apparently mentally unbalanced. She asked if I would buy her some potato chips. “Sure,” I told her. “What kind would you like?”

 “Lay’s—spicy, please.” 

Tickled that she knew what she wanted, I got her a large bag and gave it to her on my way out of the store. In her hand she now held an ice cream cone. (Apparently, she worked lots of folks who entered the shop.) Then the disheveled woman did something surprising: She gave me the ice cream cone in exchange for the chips. Touched by her generosity, I told her I really didn’t want the cone; it was all hers. But she insisted, so I took it.

As I drove away, I realized that even distraught or unbalanced souls understand the principle of sharing and fair exchange. Something inside a human being wants to say “thank you” when a kindness is given. Sometimes people who hit bottom are even more sensitive to the importance of helping each other.

In the Netflix series The Kindness Diaries, adventurist/philanthropist Leon Logothetis travels the globe without using money and, as a social experiment, asks people he encounters to help him by giving him food, a place to sleep, or gas for his motorcycle. Many turn him down, but a number of thoughtful people generously support him.

Tony, a homeless man in Pittsburgh, offered Leon a mat to sleep on in the doorway where Tony had taken shelter, and a blanket to keep him warm. He gave Leon food and offered him a new package of underwear that someone had given him. Tony had next to nothing, but he was willing to share it. Perhaps it was because he had next to nothing that he understood the value of helping. As a reward, Leon gave Tony full tuition to attend a training program that would get him a job as a skilled worker and provide him with a good income. As Leon announced this gift, tears flowed from Tony’s eyes. The circle of kindness was complete. 

Right livelihood, as Buddha called it, is built on fair and equal exchange of goods and services. In my book Spirit Means Business, I identify 10 illusions that keep people stuck in fear about money and business, and the 10 truths that liberate us. One illusion is the goal to get as much as you can while giving as little as you can. To a spiritually awakened person, this goal is meaningless and unattractive. When someone helps you by serving you a meal, providing transportation, or giving you a massage, it is natural and soul-fulfilling to want to help them in exchange. When we reframe the circulation of money as the passing around of love, we step into a prosperity mindset and we thrive. 

The homeless woman also taught me the importance of being an open receiver. Although I initially resisted, I accepted the ice cream cone. Many of us are good at giving, but we block receiving. Such resistance impedes the circulation of prosperity as much as being stingy about giving. Every willing  giver requires a willing receiver. When you are willing to receive, you allow the giver the joy of giving. 

My mentor Hilda Charlton underscored this lesson in her own unique way. If someone gave Hilda a compliment like, “That was an inspiring lecture!” Hilda would give the student the opportunity to amplify the gift. “Did you really like it?” she would reply.

“Oh, yes,” the student continued, “I learned valuable tips I can use to improve my relationships.”

Hilda was not fishing for compliments. She was quite egoless and didn’t need other people’s praise. Instead, she was opening the door for the other person to experience the reward of giving. 

Occasionally Hilda would lead a meditation on gratitude. She guided us to mentally thank the people who loved and helped us. Then she would add, “You can also send thanks to me. . . I don’t need your thanks, but you need to give it.”

We all need to give thanks

We reserve one holiday, Thanksgiving, as a day to express gratitude. Yet we need to express it every day. Not because that will make us a good person or God will one day reward us. Because gratitude heals the giver and the receiver. Abraham-Hicks teaches gratitude is the state of mind most representative of our true nature, and thus lifts us closest to heaven. 

We are told many times in the Bible that God wants to give all to us. If are going to have all, we must be willing to receive all. God puts no restrictions on the volume of blessings we can have. It is we who limit ourselves. The purpose of the spiritual path is to take the lid off the good we are open to receive so we can have it all.

Sometimes people with mental disabilities are closer to heaven than many other people. That homeless woman was willing to ask for love, accept it, and give it. May we all become so sane. 

Alan Cohen is the author of many inspirational books including Spirit Means Business. For information on this program and Alan’s books, videos, audios, online courses, retreats, and other inspirational events and materials, visit www.alancohen.com.