This New Year, I decided to focus on only one thing. And I am thrilled that I did! I know that if I can make a significant improvement in this one area, all other areas of my life will dramatically improve!

Have you been in a situation where some things don't happen for weeks, months, even years?  The more you try, the more what you aspire for seems out of reach and distant.  You even run of ideas or question whether your road map measures up to what it takes.

The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to them what their own riches are.

Every person has challenges – yes some are much bigger than others.  Every person has “riches” too.  Maybe we should spend less time on the challenges and more time on expanding our talents and riches.

Is today the most important day for you?

If not, why not?  What other day can be most important for you?

Your birthday?  Well that is either gone or yet to come.

Your graduation day?  Well that is either gone or yet to come.

Your wedding day?  Well that is either gone or yet to come.

The day your first child is or was born?  Well that is either gone or yet to come.

Today is the only day you have.  Make the most of it and if you live each day that way, your life expands!

Is today going to be a great day for you?

It all depends on you!

If you look at every situation giving it the best possible interpretation, it is going to be a great day!

If you look at every hurdle and obstacle you face today as a blessing, it will be a great day!

If you look at every defeat or failure today as a source of learning and therefore a victory, it will be a great day!

If you look at every tear you shed today as a tear of joy, it will be a great day!

As I write this, thoughts about giving I try to always remain conscious of the great gifts I have.  A wonderful family, many, many friends I love, a degree of financial security, rewarding work for good causes… In some ways it’s easy for me to feel like giving, because I feel I have so much.

What I always find inspiring is those who have so little and yet who walk a path of generosity and love. 

When I was in Karachi doing some work with Afghan refugees, we worked with local volunteers who were so poor that they had no bus fares to get home after they had spent many hours working diligently with us.  They took so much pride and pleasure in volunteering.  It struck me vividly how people who had nothing wanted to give so much! Amazing!

"...anymore than you can come from where you haven't been," says Larry Wilson founder of Wilson Learning and Pecos River Learning.

If you have, or own, qualities like compassion, kindness, wisdom then you can give them away.  Of course the irony is that in the process of sharing these qualities, they are often enhanced.

But if you feel you don't have enough love or compassion or knowledge, these are areas that you can strengthen. 

Everywhere I turn, someone is asking for something!

• My family wants more of my time
• A panhandler wants more of my change
• A fund collector is pestering me for my money
• A colleague wants my wisdom and experience

People often say to me, “Azim, everywhere I go, people are asking me for something.  Where is the power of giving you talk about in these situations?” 

Every day there are some things that will work for you.  Sometimes you will have big wins and sometimes small.

Every day there are some things that will not work for you.  Sometimes you will have big withdrawals and sometimes small.

Today, I had some magical moments and victories. Today, I also had some setbacks including people cancelling important meetings at the last minute.

I am choosing to focus on the few magical moments and expressing gratitude for those moments.  By so doing I feel energized and happy!