Being thankful for things is a crucial feeling that can actually reprogram your brain to process information differently. The more grateful you are, the more you appreciate your life and loved ones, the happier you will be on a deeper, lasting level.
The sight of beautiful, sparkly boxes adorned with ribbons and bows of all shapes, sizes, and colors, is something we’re all familiar with. A gift can be time or a material possession given by one person to express genuine affection toward another during holidays or special occasions, oftentimes, but not always, resulting in a reciprocated gesture. Thinking back over the many years of my life, I’ve noticed that I can distinctly remember the faces of my loved ones as they opened the presents I had painstakingly searched for, but not so much any of the gifts I’ve ever received. Furthermore, I remembered the tantalizing feeling of anticipation I experienced as a person I cared about reached for my box. Their hope was my hope; their joy was my joy. In that moment, the two of us were connected by a mutual appreciation for each other.
It is incredibly sad to think that most people believe that getting a gift provides a deeper sense of fulfillment than giving one. Many don’t realize that no matter what kind of person you are, the gift of giving can result in many complex and unexpected advantages for everyone. So what really are the benefits of giving?
Here are a few important ones.
- Giving Makes You Happy
Despite instinctive assumptions that have most people clutching their wallets tightly, spending our hard earned cash on others has proven time and time again to stimulate areas in the brain related to pleasure and trust. Some experts even believe that acts of generosity and kindness release endorphins, which everyone knows are the happy hormones! Does this mean that biologically we as humans are designed to be overly generous givers? Probably not, but you can’t argue that everyone should be taking every advantage of this potent mood booster.
- Giving Conjures Gratitude
Giving a gift does not ensure you will receive one in return, but it will in most cases make that person grateful to you. Being thankful for things is a powerfully underrated emotion that can have direct links to overall personal happiness. Being thankful for things is a crucial feeling that can actually reprogram your brain to process information differently. The more grateful you are, the more you appreciate your life and loved ones, the happier you will be on a deeper, lasting level.
- Giving is Contagious
Anyone ever notice you give more if you’re in a better mood? This is true for most people, making it difficult to understand why people don’t do it more often. Think about it. If everyone today gave a gift to someone they loved, and those people were so overcome with gratitude and joy that they felt inclined to gift someone else they love and so on and so forth, it would be gift giving madness! Deliriously manic people shuffling items back and forth out of devotion to one another may not be exactly what this society needs, but a little more kindness never hurt anyone.
- Giving Strengthens Social Connection
With everyone happy and thankful, passing around the generosity bug to each other, it would be inevitable for people to eventually become closer. Trust and strong bonds would form as a result of the kindness and compassion shown to each other, and soon our society would band together in an effort to better cooperate for the good of all mankind. It sounds far fetched to be able to change the world with a simple gift, but the evidence remains constant. If each person did their part to be just a little bit nicer, the world would never be the same.
- Giving is Good for Your Health
It’s no secret that living a happier life can improve your health. Less stress on your mind means less stress on your body. Multiple studies have been conducted over the years, each attempting to prove the physical benefits of giving by studying the effects of volunteering on geriatric health. One study showed that patients who chose to selflessly donate time to their loved ones and the surrounding community, were significantly (44%) less likely pass away over the course of a five year span.
It’s clear to see that the benefits of giving are numerous and compelling, but as each day passes it becomes more and more obvious that enjoying them on a daily basis is easier said than done. All we can hope to do is our best. I, for one, will strive to be a little bit better, a little bit kinder, and a little bit happier every day (for the good of all mankind, of course). Make time to give. If that is something we can help you with, please call Good Neighbor Concierge today at 617.209.9311 or complete the contact form in the sidebar to schedule your free consultation.
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