The Science of Altruism: Why is Giving Good for You?
Many charities strive to meet their goals without fanfare. We find them in various communities, working more than eight hours and serving the people without expecting money in return. The funds of these noble organisations are taken from voluntary contributions of the people. In the 2012 UK Giving Report, they reported a reduction of 15% or £1.7M in their funding. Because of this, they launched a campaign called ’Back Britain’s Charities’ which calls out for people to share as regularly as they can, regardless of how much time or money they are able to give.
The Science of Generosity
Do you know why you have two hands? Audrey Hepburn, a British actress and humanitarian once said it is because one is made for helping yourself, and the other one for helping others.
According to Buddhists, if you really value generosity, you will not let a single meal go by without sharing it. For many people, being generous is part of their nature. But for some, it takes a lot of convincing and effort to give. But for those who practise the art of giving, they often experience a rewarding feeling right after. Recall the last time you gave your mum, child or partner a gift. Didn’t it make you feel delighted and excited? Surely, you will get the same feeling of warmth when you help an old man cross the street, or buy a newspaper seller a coffee.
A wealth of research keeps telling us that giving is good not just in the moral standpoint. Health wise, generosity has plenty of benefits in our physical and mental health. For example, when you give, your brain releases dopamine – the body’s natural morphine. This lowers down your stress level, promotes better sense of well-being, and reduces physical pain. The benefit of giving is also felt by the person who receives.
Giving is “love in action”
Some people are very much hesitant to give because they think that the only way to do it is to shell out money. It’s not true. The remarkable fact is that giving even just a little portion of your time for some acts of kindness can do great wonders for your health and well-being. Giving makes you feel more energised, motivated, inspired, and happy, whereas being mean gives you the opposite effects.
When you share love, do you worry that the amount of love within you gets depleted? When you share your time, are you afraid that you might not have enough left for your personal necessities? Generosity is not intended to reduce your value or worth. In fact, it is designed to make you more filled and satisfied. It makes you richer in many different ways. Real giving is not just a transaction where you simply give and someone receives, period. It is love in action. And love is viral, it magnifies when it is shared. No matter how many people you share it to, love will come back to you a thousand fold.
Dear Readers,
Do you partake in giving to Charity? Does it make you feel good inside to give?
Share your comments below!
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