Those profound words were what I woke up to yesterday as I brushed my teeth and turned the page of my daily devotional. We’ve all heard them time and time again: “It’s better to give then to receive” but do we really live by them and do we really believe them? Research shows that yes, we should absolutely believe them!
So, as we’re all singing “Joy to the World” and spreading glad tidings and cheer, we may not realize it but, at the same time, we’re also bringing joy into our own lives. Come to find out that the key to a meaningful life is indeed in giving not from getting.
Okay, okay, we all love receiving gifts, especially this time of year, but if you want to increase your happiness and well-being, research conducted and reported recently in the “Washington Post, shows you should spend your money, time, and/or energy on others. Doing good is actually good for you!
By giving, we gain. We, of course, should not give to gain, but apparently, it’s often an unexpected and sometimes even unrealized benefit. Yes, we give and make a difference in doing so, but it all becomes somewhat of a positive cycle. Happy people give and giving makes people happy. It’s really that simple.
Living a self-less and philanthropic life also has long-term health benefits as the act of giving involves brain regions connected with reward processing as well as the medial prefrontal cortex, which is instrumental in encoding the value of people’s welfare. In short, studies find that people who help others report more satisfaction with their lives and jobs and have fewer depression symptoms up to two months later. And perhaps equally important is that even small acts of kindness can be surprisingly beneficial to our well-being.
We can’t all give huge amounts of time or money to people and places we’d perhaps like to, this is where “Tunnel to Towers’” brilliant marketing of asking just $11 a month proves every little bit can help. It has clearly made a difference as if thousands of people do so, thousands and perhaps millions of dollars can be raised. I now see this idea promoted by many other charitable entities and I myself donate to two local causes that are dear to my heart, albeit in very small monthly amounts. Even the smallest actions and donations add up over time.
If you’re wondering where to start, ask yourself what values are important to you. How do you want to use your time or money? What organizations have served you in your own life? They present a classic “pay it forward” opportunity. What are your interests? If you’re a dog lover, perhaps a local rescue group is a good idea. Golfer perhaps? First Tee organizations are wonderful organizations. Love to read? Consider a local library or book bank. By helping locally, you’ll also likely make new friends; friends who obviously share a common cause, and you’ll see the effects and benefits of your selflessness up close and personal. A great place to start and an effective way to boost happiness is to donate to causes you believe in.
Research also shows that giving is contagious as helping others not only benefits the person giving and the person receiving, but also anyone who observes or hears about acts of kindness. The idea that seeing someone do something nice or generous leads to feeling better about and less cynical about the world in general Boy do we need more of that!
Happiness guru and author Gretchen Rubin writes that by doing good we can also relieve stress as action is often an antidote to anxiety. In her study of happiness, she found that one of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy and that one of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself. Sure, you can’t make someone be happy, but you can try and your own happiness will often rub off on others. Generosity can also foster a sense of community and give us the knowledge that we’re supporting something bigger than ourselves and ultimately boost our happiness! We all want to be happy right?
Let’s review quickly however, the difference between happiness and joy. Webster defines joy as a feeling of great pleasure and delight. Happy, on the other hand, is defined as a feeling or show pleasure or contentment. Happiness is generally fleeting and temporary while joy is a true send of utter and permanent delight.
You might have participated in the recent “Giving Tuesday” global movement that unites people in generosity. It perfectly and conveniently lands the Tuesday after the spending bonanzas of “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” and is a great reminder that many of us have what we need so maybe we need to give…and I don’t mean tons of Christmas presents for the kids and the grandkids. Sidebar here but fits this narrative: since our daughter was little, she has only received three gifts as I read something at the time that said “if three gifts were good enough for Jesus, they’re good enough for us.” Bingo. It’s stuck to this day.
This all tied together walking out of mass today when my husband said he was officially not focusing on receiving any gifts this Christmas season but instead focusing on all his blessings and giving. We were read “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise” from the Gospel of Luke and my hope is that hubby wasn’t the only one listening and learning that doing good is good for you. Good luck!
Beyond Words 