Although it may sound like a cliché, science actually proves that when we give, we experience a high. When we give to others, the ventral striatum is activated, as a result of rewarding stimuli. This is the same area of the brain that is awakened from going for a run or witnessing a beautiful piece of art – hence, giver’s high.
Many studies show that people are much happier to shop for others than for themselves, which only supports the theory that we’re much happier to give than to receive. This was instilled in us long ago, stemming from religion. For instance, Muslims are required to use a Zakat calculator to determine how much money they must give to charity each year, whilst Christians are incredibly conscious about giving to the church. Despite this, you don’t need to be religious to appreciate the goodness of giving.
Appetite for Giving
Unfortunately, as modern individuals, we’ve seen a growth in the trend of selfishness. This has been trending for decades, but it has only accelerated in recent years due to the dog-eat-dog world that we live in. As of recent, many of us have adopted the attitude of every man for himself, but this isn’t a way to live.
Of course, it’s difficult to make sacrifices for other individuals when you’re struggling yourself; however, many of us could give a lot more than we do. If you’re a privileged individual that can afford to help others, then you absolutely should. As your earnings increase, the amount you give to others should, too. Sadly, this trend normally works in the opposite way with those who earn more being less willing to give to others.
Above all else, you should look to yourself to see how you can improve. It’s far too easy to blame others; however, in order to make a change, we must hold ourselves accountable for where we’re going wrong. This may seem difficult, but your own mental health will benefit, as well as the lives of those who you’re giving to.
Practice the Power of Giving
The rising cost of living has opened our eyes to how much money affects our lives; however, it shouldn’t come to this for us to recognise our blessings. Unfortunately, society has hardwired us to hoard wealth for a rainy day. Although it’s sensible to have some money put by, there are billionaires that simply don’t need the amount of money that they have. Meanwhile, there are individuals out there that don’t have a penny to their name and have no idea where their next meal is coming from. To most of us, five dollars is throwaway money; however, this minimal amount of money can feed someone in need for a few days.
Of course, if you’ve never practiced generous habits before it might be tricky to pick this up out of nowhere. Despite this, it can be done, and the benefits are endless once you achieve this. You can start by incorporating generosity into your everyday life and, as the science suggests, you’re sure to feel better because of it. At the same time, someone will be aided via your generosity.
Writing down spending is a good way to see how you can factor giving into your life. You’d be surprised by how much you spend in a disposable fashion. If you redirect this to a better cause you could make a huge different to your personal wellbeing, as well as the welfare of someone else.
The facts don’t lie. What will you do to reap the biological benefits of giving?
