Klemmer urged each one of his students to be “a fanatic” about giving away the things that mattered most to them. That could be attention, time, care, power, love, or any of the material things that anchor our lives to the world. The point is that by freely giving these things away, we affect the flow of events in the universe so that they ultimately return to us.
In Klemmer trainings and workshops, participants learn the philosophy—and the physics—of this principle. By giving away what is most important to us, we initiate cycles of reciprocity that result in those very same things coming back to us, often in a far more meaningful way.
When you first realize that this principle pervades your daily life, it can be a little disorienting. But it’s as simple as Newton’s Third Law of Motion: If one thing exerts a force on another, that second thing exerts an equal force on the first in return.
In other words, the actions you put out into the world create a ripple effect that comes back to you in proportion to the effort you put into the process. Sometimes, what we give returns to us in the same form it had when we gave it away. At other times, it comes back to us transformed, magnified, or even from an entirely unexpected source. But it always comes back.
Take steps toward giving
Try it: If you’re a leader, make sure you don’t hoard all the credit and recognition for yourself. It’s much more fulfilling to acknowledge every member of your team and their contributions. Put them first, make sure the light shines on their accomplishments, and watch what happens.
You’ll be rewarded with increased morale and a greater commitment from your team, as well as a desire to continue to excel. In addition, you’ll continue to receive the recognition due to you as an inspiring and supportive leader who knows how to develop a high-functioning team.
Escape the scarcity mentality
When we become mired in an obsession with scarcity, we fail to see the abundance that exists all around us. Klemmer coursework asks you to confront outmoded habits of thinking that do nothing but hold you back from realizing your own power and effectiveness.
One of the most detrimental of these useless paradigms is the idea that we are trapped in a world of scarcity.
People stuck in this worldview see life as a zero-sum game. They don’t dare relax their grip on any of the resources they have for fear of losing them forever and ending up worse off than before. While this instinct may have been helpful to our mammoth-hunting ancestors, it’s highly unproductive to continue seeing the world as a ceaseless struggle to grab and hoard everything before it gets away.
Medical researchers have a name for this. They call it the “scarcity mentality.” It’s often a result of past trauma, or an early life marked by financial or other misfortunes. People with this mindset stay focused on whatever in life they lack—either in reality or in their own perceptions. It could be money or other material things, or it could be love or emotional support.
The point is that a “scarcity mentality” brings on a kind of tunnel vision. When you allow a sense of scarcity to dominate your thinking, your brain doesn’t even have the capacity to get you working toward any of the goals that would bring more abundance into your life. Cycles of stress, confusion, and a sense of helplessness build up over time. Studies have shown that this produces deficits in cognitive function and decision-making abilities.
So instead of allowing a fear of scarcity to dominate your life, start opening up your vision to see the abundance available to you.
Develop an abundance mindset
Developing an abundance mentality allows you to retake control of your own destiny. The change first involves understanding that you really can make the shift from a “scarcity mentality” to a mindset centered on abundance. You’re in charge here, so choose the attitude that can get you closer to achieving your goals.
Confronting your scarcity mentality and working to overcome it is essential. Instinct, habit, and life experiences may have solidified this way of thinking in you. But it’s never too late to adopt a more positive mindset.
Try to stay open to observing the abundance that already exists. You probably have more options, choices, and possibilities surrounding you than you know. Once you learn to really notice their presence, you’ll feel like more opportunities are expanding around you. What’s happening, though, is that you’re finally allowing yourself to see what’s been there all along.
Internalize the fact that security, happiness, and paths to growth are available to everyone, and that another person’s success in no way detracts from your own.
Learn to find happiness in the present moment. Face challenges pragmatically, while staying grounded in the positives. Whatever your circumstances, look for opportunities to not only survive, but to thrive and excel.
The power of giving with joy
Whenever you feel that you lack something important, start by giving that very same thing to others. Even if you can only give a little, give what you have. Give ceaselessly, selflessly, and with joy.
Offer a well-deserved compliment to your front desk staff. Provide public recognition to members of your team who otherwise would have stayed in the background. Give them the autonomy they need to make decisions, and support them when they do. Give without any expectation of reward, for the sheer pleasure of lifting someone else up. You’ll never know exactly when or how you will be rewarded—but rest assured that you will be.
Show people you believe in them, that you trust them, and want them to succeed. You’ll likely be overwhelmed when you see the outpouring of confidence, trust, and support that they—and others you have yet to meet—will give back to you.