“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” – Maya Angelou
According to Charity Navigator, Americans annually donate approximately 8.1 billion volunteer hours and give about 3% of their income to charities. Giving also includes helping your neighbor, leading a hand to a stranger or offering a smile to a stranger.
The impact of giving is easy to measure when you look at the receiver, but the benefits to giver are often overlooked or underestimated. Here are a few reasons to give more:
- “Helper’s high.” Giving feels good. Research by the National Institute of Health found when people give it activates a region of the brain associated with pleasure, social connection and releases endorphins which produce a positive feeling known as the “helper’s high.”
- “Law of reciprocity.” The social benefit of giving is: people who receive kind acts are often inspired to be kind and nicer to others. When you are kind, your brain is also triggered to notice the kindness of others, which positively impacts the way you view the world.
- Perspective. Giving to others provides perspective on our own lives. You can’t be giving to others while you are thinking about yourself. As a result of moving out of your head and into the moment, you gain a different perspective on your own life.
- Gratitude. Giving (and receiving) evokes a feeling of gratitude. Research shows gratitude increases physical and emotional health.
The impact of giving extends far beyond the statistics; a simple act of kindness can change someone’s life and improve your own.
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Much Success!
Have an outstanding day!!
Sara