Why Do I Give So Much... and Still Feel So Empty? Bhagavad Gita’s Perspective
Riya Kumari | Apr 19, 2025, 23:59 IST
What Krishna’s really saying is: Be the best version of yourself. Serve others, be there for them, love, laugh, cry, but don’t keep waiting for someone to hand you a trophy at the end. Life is messy, unpredictable, and sometimes it feels thankless. But if you can find joy in the giving itself, without needing it to be reciprocated, suddenly you might find yourself feeling a little less empty.
We’ve all been there. You give. And give. And give some more. Whether it’s time, energy, or love—you’ve poured your heart into something. Maybe it’s been a friendship, a relationship, or simply an effort to help someone who needed it. You expected nothing in return, and yet... somehow, you’re left feeling empty. It’s as if the more you give, the less you have. A void seems to grow, a thirst that no amount of giving can quench. So, what's going on? Why does giving feel so draining sometimes? If you’ve ever had this experience (and who hasn’t?), you’re not alone. This isn’t just a modern-day dilemma; it’s an age-old question. The Bhagavad Gita, one of the most profound texts in Indian philosophy, offers insights that resonate as much today as they did when they were first written. And while it may seem paradoxical, the Gita actually has a rather simple, yet powerful, way of addressing this very concern: Stop expecting something in return.
In the Gita, Lord Krishna gives Arjuna a piece of advice that, at first, feels almost too simple. He tells Arjuna to perform his duty without attachment to the results. "You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions," Krishna says (Bhagavad Gita 2.47). At the surface level, this advice seems... inconvenient. Because, let’s face it, we’re all so used to being rewarded for our efforts—whether that reward is recognition, love, or the satisfaction of seeing our work make a tangible impact. But the truth is, when we base our sense of fulfillment on the results of our actions, we’re setting ourselves up for disappointment.
Here’s the catch: Expecting something in return is what leads to emptiness. It’s the attachment to results that leaves you feeling drained. When you give and expect a return, you are emotionally investing in the outcome. And outcomes, as life shows us, are often unpredictable. The expectation is what fuels your burnout. The disappointment is inevitable.
So, why does giving feel empty? Because we are often giving with an unspoken, but very real, expectation. We give because we want something—validation, love, gratitude, or a sense of purpose. But the moment we tie our fulfillment to the reaction of others or the result of our actions, we put ourselves in a vulnerable position. The Gita calls this the “fruit of action.” And it’s here where we can make the shift. It’s not that we stop giving; it’s that we stop giving in a way that binds us to the outcome.
We must learn to give selflessly, without the hidden agenda of expecting a specific result. Giving, in its purest form, is an offering—an action done for its own sake, without any need for compensation. This is when true fulfillment arises. It’s in the act of giving freely, without needing recognition, that we begin to experience a sense of completeness. Paradoxically, the less we focus on the result, the more we start to feel fulfilled.
We live in a world that rewards the "endgame." We’re taught to seek the rewards, to hustle, to climb the ladder. Our worth often seems tied to the results we achieve. This external validation becomes our measure of success. The problem with this is that, when we don't get the expected recognition or reward, it leaves us feeling... empty. That void we’ve been trying to fill with our giving grows bigger. And yet, the very thing we desire—recognition or reward—remains just out of reach.
But here’s the wisdom the Gita imparts: The external reward is not the point. Life is less about collecting accolades and more about finding fulfillment within the act itself. The truth is, you’re never going to feel truly full if your giving is contingent on the approval or return from others. That kind of fulfillment is temporary. But if you give simply because it’s what you feel called to do—whether or not it’s acknowledged—there’s a deeper satisfaction that fills the space within.
Lord Krishna’s words aren’t a rejection of action. On the contrary, they encourage action. But it’s action done with the understanding that we don’t control the outcome. When you give without attachment, it’s a form of spiritual freedom. You are liberated from the need for acknowledgment, from the weight of expectations. Detachment doesn’t mean you stop caring. It doesn’t mean you become indifferent to others’ well-being. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. When you let go of expectations, your ability to truly give without strings attached increases. It’s a paradox—by detaching from the results, you actually become more deeply connected to your purpose and the people you serve.
This doesn’t make the process of giving any less significant; in fact, it enhances it. Without the pressure of needing something in return, you can give wholeheartedly, without depletion, because your actions aren’t being dictated by the hope of receiving.
When we take the pressure off ourselves to "get something back," giving becomes a source of true joy. In fact, the Gita suggests that we can find liberation through selfless action. By learning to give without expecting, we stop tying our worth to how others see us or how they respond.
This doesn’t mean you stop caring about people or their reactions; it just means that you stop relying on them to define your happiness. You become the source of your own satisfaction. The sense of emptiness? It begins to fade away. In the simplest terms: You give, not to gain. You act, not to be recognized. And in this shift, you create space within yourself for peace.
So, next time you feel that familiar emptiness creeping in—when you’ve given everything and feel like you’ve gotten nothing—take a moment. Ask yourself: Are you giving for the right reasons? Are you seeking something in return, even if it's just a feeling of fulfillment or validation? The Bhagavad Gita’s wisdom isn’t just about grand philosophical ideals; it’s about real, tangible shifts in how we live. By learning to give without attachment to the result, we step into a kind of freedom that’s not dependent on the world’s approval, but on our own understanding of our worth. True fulfillment isn’t about what you get. It’s about what you give. And sometimes, the most powerful act of giving is simply giving without expecting.
The Gita's Approach to Giving
Feeding birds
( Image credit : Pexels )
In the Gita, Lord Krishna gives Arjuna a piece of advice that, at first, feels almost too simple. He tells Arjuna to perform his duty without attachment to the results. "You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions," Krishna says (Bhagavad Gita 2.47). At the surface level, this advice seems... inconvenient. Because, let’s face it, we’re all so used to being rewarded for our efforts—whether that reward is recognition, love, or the satisfaction of seeing our work make a tangible impact. But the truth is, when we base our sense of fulfillment on the results of our actions, we’re setting ourselves up for disappointment.
Here’s the catch: Expecting something in return is what leads to emptiness. It’s the attachment to results that leaves you feeling drained. When you give and expect a return, you are emotionally investing in the outcome. And outcomes, as life shows us, are often unpredictable. The expectation is what fuels your burnout. The disappointment is inevitable.
Understanding the Nature of Giving
Win or lose
( Image credit : Pexels )
So, why does giving feel empty? Because we are often giving with an unspoken, but very real, expectation. We give because we want something—validation, love, gratitude, or a sense of purpose. But the moment we tie our fulfillment to the reaction of others or the result of our actions, we put ourselves in a vulnerable position. The Gita calls this the “fruit of action.” And it’s here where we can make the shift. It’s not that we stop giving; it’s that we stop giving in a way that binds us to the outcome.
We must learn to give selflessly, without the hidden agenda of expecting a specific result. Giving, in its purest form, is an offering—an action done for its own sake, without any need for compensation. This is when true fulfillment arises. It’s in the act of giving freely, without needing recognition, that we begin to experience a sense of completeness. Paradoxically, the less we focus on the result, the more we start to feel fulfilled.
The Problem with Expecting
Likes
( Image credit : Pexels )
We live in a world that rewards the "endgame." We’re taught to seek the rewards, to hustle, to climb the ladder. Our worth often seems tied to the results we achieve. This external validation becomes our measure of success. The problem with this is that, when we don't get the expected recognition or reward, it leaves us feeling... empty. That void we’ve been trying to fill with our giving grows bigger. And yet, the very thing we desire—recognition or reward—remains just out of reach.
But here’s the wisdom the Gita imparts: The external reward is not the point. Life is less about collecting accolades and more about finding fulfillment within the act itself. The truth is, you’re never going to feel truly full if your giving is contingent on the approval or return from others. That kind of fulfillment is temporary. But if you give simply because it’s what you feel called to do—whether or not it’s acknowledged—there’s a deeper satisfaction that fills the space within.
The Gita’s Wisdom: Freedom Through Detachment
Pray
( Image credit : Pexels )
Lord Krishna’s words aren’t a rejection of action. On the contrary, they encourage action. But it’s action done with the understanding that we don’t control the outcome. When you give without attachment, it’s a form of spiritual freedom. You are liberated from the need for acknowledgment, from the weight of expectations. Detachment doesn’t mean you stop caring. It doesn’t mean you become indifferent to others’ well-being. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. When you let go of expectations, your ability to truly give without strings attached increases. It’s a paradox—by detaching from the results, you actually become more deeply connected to your purpose and the people you serve.
This doesn’t make the process of giving any less significant; in fact, it enhances it. Without the pressure of needing something in return, you can give wholeheartedly, without depletion, because your actions aren’t being dictated by the hope of receiving.
What Happens When We Stop Expecting?
Help
( Image credit : Pexels )
When we take the pressure off ourselves to "get something back," giving becomes a source of true joy. In fact, the Gita suggests that we can find liberation through selfless action. By learning to give without expecting, we stop tying our worth to how others see us or how they respond.
This doesn’t mean you stop caring about people or their reactions; it just means that you stop relying on them to define your happiness. You become the source of your own satisfaction. The sense of emptiness? It begins to fade away. In the simplest terms: You give, not to gain. You act, not to be recognized. And in this shift, you create space within yourself for peace.