In our world the concept of value is often tied to how much something costs… but there is a great deal of essential value that we can offer to others without expecting something back from them. This article will discuss five things that we can offer to others right now from within ourselves without expecting something back in exchange.

These gifts can never be depleted and can indeed act as a passage to the true value and happiness that is ever-abundant within.

1. Smiling

Smiling is one of the most simple actions that we can do — however a smile is one of the most powerful expressions that we can put across. It doesn't cost anything from us nor do we lose anything in the process. In fact a smile can brighten how things are going for those around us, whether friends or strangers, and also increase our own sense of happiness at the same time.

Consider how often the gift of happiness is misused in our world. Often people laugh at others as a false source of happiness, or smile when something of perceived value or desire is obtained. On the other hand when a smile is given out of pure acceptance of another person (something we are all capable of giving) it can be felt in the truest sense.

2. Giving Gratitude

The simple expression of gratitude for the actions that others take that benefit us brings greater meaning to their actions. Sometimes it can seem like others are aware that we are grateful, but often unless we bring conscious attention to it – with a "Thank You" – our sense of gratitude is left unacknowledged.

Being more grateful on a conscious level for the smaller things in life also increases the amount of happiness that can be taken and received on a universal level.

3. Not Reserving Love

One of the common occurrences in our world is the reservation of love to certain groups of people. This process almost assumes that there is limited quota of love that can be given before it runs out, or that somehow certain groups of people deserve it more than others.

However the truth is that it is often our own process of limiting the amount of love that we give to others that then results in a lack of love within ourselves.

4. Being Your Genuine Self

There have been a few times in the past where someone I knew would go to a large amount of effort to create a lie to cover up the truth about something particular… whatever the things were I am sure now were quite insignificant then. Yet even the most insignificant things tend to attract a method of 'escaping' their realities through ignoring the truth altogether. 

Imagine how much mental power it takes to create a lie about something rather than just being honest. It requires creating a tale that seems realistic enough to make it believable. For what? Being honest and upfront frees up all of those energies invested in protecting a 'safer alternative' to confronting the truth. This is also the decision each one of us has right now and each second after reading this paragraph: to face the truth or to run from it. To face it is to be free, but to run has the cost of knowing that the mind would prefer going along with its own lie - which is quite a frightening realization.

5. Sharing Your Life Experience

One thing that we often do not give ourselves enough value and self-worth for is our own unique life experience and lessons that we have learned on our own unique path. There is not one person in the world that does not have something unique to share with others that others would benefit from. The reason that this is so often forgotten is that value in our world is associated with obtaining a specific standard of learning or a specific position at work rather than first exploring what it is that makes each one of us unique in how we can use that.

Your own life experience is something that no other person has had, and sharing that experience with others benefits brings about mutual self-awareness and also allows friendships to be built on a deeper level.