Everyone believes that receiving gifts makes one happy, however, the fact remains that receiving gifts gives temporary happiness. This cannot be compared to the happiness and other benefits that come with giving.
Giving comes in various forms such as buying a present for someone, paying a stranger’s transport fare, donating to charities, buying items for the homeless etc.
Medically, when you give to others, a special hormone known as oxytocin, is released and this induces feelings of warmth, euphoria, and connection to others.
Additionally, giving gives you a special kind of positive that affects your mental state, emotional and your overall well-being as well.
There are several benefits that come with giving and some of them include:
Giving makes you feel happy
When you give, your brain’s pleasure circuits are unconsciously stimulated, thereby releasing a special chemical known as endorphin, which gives you a sense of euphoria, and oxytocin, which promotes tranquility and inner peace.
This means that when you give, there is a special stimulation that spurs pleasure and trust, creating a ‘warm glow’ effect.
As stated earlier, receiving gifts or being on the receiving end may bring short term happiness unlike the long-term happiness, fulfillment and overall satisfaction that comes with performing good deeds and giving to others.
Giving is good for your health
Asides from bringing you happiness and overall satisfaction, medical experts have proved that giving is actually good for one’s health.
This is because, stress is a major cause of various health issues, however, giving or volunteering reduces stress thereby improving one’s health especially those suffering from chronic diseases.
Additionally, giving has been proven to decrease blood pressure, which is one of the most common health issues thereby promoting longer life and better health.
Giving spurs gratitude
There are various reasons why people give, it could be because they sympathize with the people involved or because they have a heart of giving and rendering help to the needy or simply because giving helps them express gratitude.
Giving is one of the major ways to express gratitude and this is essential for happiness, health and social bonds.
This is because when you express gratitude through giving, people around you would not only feel your sense of gratitude but will also be motivated to give as well. This means that giving indirectly boosts the positivity of those around you.
Encourages cooperation and social connection
The benefits that come with giving don’t only affect you, however, it reaches out to those around you as well.
Therefore, when you help someone in need or give gift items, your act of generosity is often continued down the line to someone else, or returned to you at some point. This strengthens your ties and relationship with others.
Moreover, expressing kindness in deeds helps you see and understand others in a more positive and charitable way thereby spurring a strong sense of cooperation and social connection.
Giving is contagious
Another major benefit of giving is that this act is contagious, this means that when you stay around givers, over time, it rubs off on you and you are encouraged to give as well.
On the other hand, when you give, those around you are encouraged to do same and if this keeps going, it invariably increases the level of generosity among people in a particular location.
Giving reduces depression
A good number of individuals suffer from depression and this is affecting the mental state of various individuals. However, engaging in giving or rendering help reduces depression.
This is because during philanthropy, certain mood mediating chemicals associated with peace and serenity are released. That way, your mental health is at peace and depression is reduced as well.
In conclusion, there are various benefits associated with giving, this shows that giving is a skill that everyone should cultivate in their lives.
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