The phrase “what you give, you get back” suggests that the actions and behaviours that you exhibit towards others are likely to be reciprocated. If you treat others with kindness, respect, and generosity, then you are more likely to receive the same treatment in return. Conversely, if you act selfishly, disrespectfully, or hurtfully toward others, you may find that they respond in kind.

This concept is sometimes referred to as the law of reciprocity or the principle of cause and effect. Essentially, it suggests that our actions have consequences and that the way we treat others will have an impact on the way they treat us. It is a reminder to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves and to strive for positive interactions and relationships with those around us.

This idea of “what you give, you get back” is often associated with the concept of karma, which is a central tenet of many Eastern philosophies and religions. Karma suggests that our actions have consequences and that the energy we put out into the world will come back to us in some form or another.

From a more scientific perspective, this concept can be understood through the lens of social psychology. Research has shown that people tend to reciprocate the behavior they receive from others. This means that if you are kind and helpful towards others, they are more likely to be kind and helpful towards you in return.

Of course, there are many factors that can influence how people behave toward one another. However, the general principle remains true: the way we treat others has an impact on the way they treat us.

It’s worth noting that the concept of “what you give, you get back” is not just limited to interpersonal relationships. It can also apply to our professional lives, our communities, and even the world at large. For example, businesses that prioritize corporate social responsibility and giving back to their communities may find that they enjoy greater success and loyalty from customers and employees.

Another way to think about the concept of “what you give, you get back” is to consider it in the context of personal growth and self-improvement.

When we give our time, energy, and resources to others, we are not only helping them, but we are also helping ourselves. By contributing to the well-being of others, we can experience a sense of fulfillment and purpose that can be difficult to find through self-centered pursuits.

Moreover, giving to others can help us develop important skills and traits such as empathy, compassion, and generosity. These qualities can not only improve our relationships with others but also enhance our own well-being and personal growth.

In addition, the act of giving can help us shift our perspective and focus on the good in our lives rather than the negative. When we give to others, we are reminded of the abundance and blessings we have in our own lives, which can cultivate feelings of gratitude and positivity.

Stock Market Context: The phrase “what you give, you get back” is often used to describe the concept of reciprocity, which refers to the idea that if you give something to someone, they are more likely to give something back to you in return. In the context of the stock market, this principle can be applied in a few different ways.

I will ask you very simple questions…

1. When you hear or see news or WhatsApp messages stating that the stock market may crash due to xyz reason, what thoughts do you have in your mind? Sell out holdings, do short selling and make money, watch the market come down, wait more for stocks to come down, have volatile economic thoughts in your mind, think the government is full of corruption, etc. Just imagine what you are going to get back if you give such a level of thought to the stock market. Think of yourself only. The stock market always gives a return in terms of portfolio returns. If you have such thoughts in your mind, what returns may you have in your portfolio? Think yourself. If someone thinks negatively about you, how much will you help him compared to someone who blindly trusts you? What thoughts may you create for him?
2. Research shows almost 90% (approximately) of retail trades lose money in the stock market. Have you ever wondered why this happens? Let’s understand in detail. As a new person, you come into the market after creating lots of imagination about the stock market in your mind. What happens, Think… You do your first trade and you make a good profit; touchwood, if it’s a buy trade, then you think it should go up, go up, go up. Then you may make a short-selling trade because you think the market should come down. When the stock price is higher than your short selling price, you think this company is full rigged, the government helps only a few people, it’s full of corruption, one day this stock is going to come down for sure, xyz people are full bogus, one day shares will crash badly, and the market is overpriced. Just hang on and think indirectly about what thought you have given to the stock market and the company. What do you think? In what format will you get it back? Your one trade is stuck, and what thoughts do you create? Just imagine that for that period, you don’t make any money and sit in that position (of course, your investment should be in good-quality stocks). What will happen? Is stock trading going to close? Or you may get another chance to make a fast profit in the future; what is the probability? Think of your own.
3. There are a lot of people who don’t have a single share in their account who say the stock market is gambling and the share market is satta; even those who work in the financial industry can imagine when they say it’s rigged and may crash badly. What returns they will get from the market Here is what I am trying to make a point of: if you are not really connected with the stock market, does it make any sense to have this kind of thought? Eventually, you are going to bear it—maybe not now, but when you start trading or investing in the market. You may counter by saying, “It’s in the news paper, media, and article; should we blindly ignore all and just think good about the stock market and get returns? No, absolutely not. See, understand, we cannot stop anyone from saying anything, and that’s also a fact. But if you encounter such an article, you will always have the option to understand what and how the stock market works, what history says, and what the past records on different events are. If the answer or results are positive, then does it make any sense to have those kinds of thoughts?
4. When you’ve stuck with your investment in a particular stock for a long time and it’s not giving any results, what thoughts do you have in mind? Let me ask: how many of you go on the company website to check the financial reports of that company and check past results? Number-wise, not even 1 out of 10 You just watch the price and start creating unimaginable thoughts in your mind. Trust me, this is a fact, and I have seen it a number of times. Let me also tell you: have you ever seen a fundamentally strong company whose stock price is very low or stuck? Let me share an example of Titan. In 1995, Titan shares were trading around Rs. 30–40. Few people got that rate and sold at Rs. 87 (I have met a fund manager who did this, hence sharing his view also). He sold shares because there was a lot of panic in the market, and the fact is that shares actually crashed to Rs. 60, but he did not buy back, thinking results were weak. The same share I, myself, got in (around) 2016 at Rs. 350 and sold at Rs. 630 in less than a year, with the same reason of panic sentiments When I met XYZ fund manager, and in our discussion, it came to light that both of us had positions in the same stock (TITAN-CMP Rs. 2600), and both of us don’t have those stock holdings now, he told me he had learned this after spending 35 years in the market. Buy or work into only good-quality stocks, and irrespective of market sentiments, always have a position in the market. Keeping hold of it will help you create great wealth. If you hear any bad sentiments or get scary thoughts, look at the past records. Of course, if it is stock-level news, then look at the details and then make the final call. I am sharing my experience to make you think differently.
5. There are a lot of people who have anxiety. If I have X crore in my account, what happens if the share price goes to 0? Or if you lose it all. If you have the same thought or fear at regular intervals, does it really make any sense to invest in the market, irrespective of the fact that you have selected good stocks? You are having this fear, and touchwood, it should not happen, but sometimes you get really stuck in it, and then whatever thought you create, same in return, you will get it. Always keep in mind that if you are not believing something and, just out of greed, you are doing that act, then there is a high chance of getting trapped. It’s natural because you understand the thought process you are creating. One day (out of 100 trades), it may haunt you again. How one can avoid this is very simple: understand the stock market and how it works, start with a small investment, and gradually, the more confidence you gain, the more you increase the investment in that portfolio. Till that time, don’t do any top-ups or add money. Irrespective of whether any researcher says to buy or sell any stock, what happens is that, out of greed, you trust the wealth or bank manager and invest in a fund or portfolio, but if you are going to have anxiety, it will not make any sense to make that money. It may become a reason for distraction, not today but in the future. Think about this.
6. I see a lot of people say, “I’ve got a high risk of not keeping money in the bank but investing it in the stock market, so I should get high returns. Of course, expectations are right. Now let’s understand: when you work for any company,you get a salary in return. When you give all your time, efforts, and money to your own company, you make a profit. When you give good time and commitment, you get good relationships. What do you give to the stock market so that it should give high returns? Think over it. Why should my portfolio continue to grow in value? What am I going to give to the stock market or economy? How it is possible. Those who talk well about their country and economy should know at what level their shares are trading or what wealth they hold. What positions they hold. Think about this.
7. I hardly watch any movies, but the other day, my sister-in-law asked to watch the recent movie “Tu Jhuti Main Makhar.” So we did. If you watch that movie, the same thing you will learn is that what Hero did for most of the time in the movie (many break up), he got the same thing in return. Of course, his intention was not bad, so he saved his relationship. The point that I am trying to make is “What he gave, he got the same thing”. At the end Hero showed compassion to heroine, then they get back into relationship. Sometimes we make losses or book losses. What matters is your intention. Manytimes, market sentiments or events are not in your hand (e.g.Covid, policy decisions) that may hammer the stock holdings of yours but ensure you have good intentions towards market.

Overall, the principle of “what you give, you get back” can be applied to the stock market in many different ways, from understanding what the stock market is to making good returns. By applying these points or having a deep understanding of these examples, one can or may be able to increase their chances of earning consistent returns over the long term while also reducing their risk and mitigating the impact of market volatility and unforeseen events.