Michael Fox Coaching Free Community

We’ve all heard some version of the saying, “The more you give, the more you get.” It sounds nice, but a skeptical part of us always wonders if it’s true.

Does the universe really work like a vending machine? If I put in $20 to charity, does a $50 opportunity spit out at the bottom?

The honest answer is no. It doesn’t work like that. But the deeper truth is that giving does create abundance, just not in the transactional way we imagine. The secret isn't in the act of giving itself, but in the mindset behind it.

Think about it in two ways:

1. The "Trader" Mindset

This is when you give with a hidden expectation of a return. You donate, but you’re secretly keeping a tally, waiting for the universe to pay you back. While the act is generous, the mindset is still one of scarcity—a belief that you're "losing" something and need to be reimbursed. Your hand is open, but you’re anxiously waiting to snatch something back. This energy is tense and contracted.

2. The "Gardener" Mindset

This is when you give simply because you see a need and you trust there is enough to go around. You’re not thinking about a return on investment. You are acting from a place of abundance—a belief that we’re all connected and that helping someone else enriches the whole system. Your hand is truly open, with no strings attached.

This energy is relaxed and expansive.

Imagine a gardener who plants a seed. If they spend all day demanding that the seed pay them back with a full-grown plant by tomorrow, nothing will happen. But if they give the seed to the soil, water it, and trust the process, a harvest becomes the natural result of their faith and nurturing.

Giving with a "Gardener" mindset does more than help someone else; it fundamentally changes you. It quiets the anxious, scarcity-driven voice in your head. It replaces fear with a feeling of connection and purpose.

And when you’re not so consumed by the fear of “not having enough,” you suddenly have the mental clarity to see new opportunities, build stronger relationships, and feel a sense of peace that no amount of money can buy.

So, will giving make you rich? Maybe not in the way you think. It won’t guarantee a winning lottery ticket. But it will absolutely make your life richer.

It frees you from anxiety and connects you to the world in a more meaningful way. And that’s a return on investment that’s truly priceless.