As the festive season gets into full swing, at some level we are all considering the process of giving – whether it's a lunch for a client, Christmas cards to overseas friends, or that extra special gift for a loved one. In this vein, I recently had a most profound experience, through which I learned some powerful life lessons.

I was sitting quieting doing my daily visualisation when suddenly, without request, I was overcome with the most powerful sense of love. I was bathed in a physical sensation that was completely real, uplifting and transformative. My only explanation was that somewhere, someone was praying for me, or deliberately sending me love. Without knowing the who, the what, and the why, my day had been changed for the better, and I felt wonderful!

I decided that each day I would deliberately turn my mind and heart to the process of sending love to those I cared about, so that they too, could benefit as I had. As I did this I came across 4 key insights. These are:

1. We cannot give what we don't have. Obvious! but all too often we overlook this simple truth, and the fact that it can be used to make our lives better. In order for me to send out a wave of love, I had to first find it in myself. Only then could I pass it on. If you wish to have something, start by intending to give it away – because then you really learn how to get it!

2. Giving nourishes both the giver and the receiver. As I identified the love in myself and chose to send it on, I became infused with the very love energy I was giving away.

3. When we give good, we see good. As I visualised myself sending this stream of love I found that without trying, my mind automatically acknowledged the wonderful aspects of the recipient. And seeing good, makes you feel good – yet another personal benefit of giving.

4. The most beautiful gift you can give is to acknowledge the good in another – especially if it is something they don't, or can't, see in themselves. As I practised the exercise, my mental images of the giving process changed. I found myself looking into the essence of the recipient, and realised that the love I was sending to them, actually lived in them already! To get them to experience the love, all I needed to do was say 'I see the love in you', and love became activated in them.

What a wonderful fourth insight, and how relevant to motivation, achievement and success. Everyone has talent, everyone has ability, and all that's required is to activate it, is for someone to acknowledge it. That's the greatest gift you can ever give. There are some people whose life experience has been so negative that they are just not able to see any potential or loveliness within themselves. But you can change that this Christmas. You can activate their abilities and set them on the road to possibility using the fourth insight.

So if you are short of money this year, what the Dalai Lama said applies: 'Not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.'

Don't feel bad because you can't rush out to the shops to buy presents, the truth is you have something even better to give, make your choice – belief, love or talents. It is clear that the most beautiful and important gift is not delivered in wrapping paper, but comes free right from the goodness of your heart.

© Catherine M Glennie