Generosity and Wellbeing
The holiday season is upon us! Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away, with Christmas right around the corner. Many of us will gather with friends and family, as we often give gifts or display acts of generosity towards others to keep the holiday spirit alive. Generosity is an important part of the holiday season not just for the recipient but for your mental wellbeing.
This time of year can add an uncomfortable amount of pressure causing stress to be emotionally and physically crippling. However, giving can improve our physical and mental wellbeing. The act of giving decreases your blood pressure and reduces stress, which can positively influence your mental health. Studies show that acts of generosity increase our mental wellbeing as well as those to whom we are giving. Charity activates the brain’s reward pathway (also known as the mesolimbic pathway) which generates feelings of thankfulness, fulfillment, inner peace, and a sense of purpose. It increases self-esteem and lowers psychological distress.
When we give, we feel better about ourselves. A healthy sense of self-awareness is important. Sometimes we listen to cognitive distortions, or negative self-talk, within ourselves and self-sabotage our confidence and sense of happiness. Generosity counteracts our negative self-talk by providing opportunities to witness and participate in genuine goodness.
Giving fosters social relationships. When we give, it strengthens our ties to each other, which in turn leads to healthier relationships. We see others (and ourselves) in a more positive light, and we feel connected. Social connection lowers anxiety and depression, helps you regulate your emotions, and improves your immune systems.
Think about the last time you gave a present to a child. There is a growing sense of anticipation as the child receives your gift. As they begin to open the present, your eyes grow wider. When a genuine smile appears on their face, you smile. They may get up and yell or dance out of excitement. You may laugh, smile, hug, and experience a sense of warmth. There is no reason these good feelings cannot be experienced with others and more often.
Giving Tuesday is November 29th, which was established in 2012 to promote a day of shared humanity in which people are encouraged to do good. Everyone has something to give. You can donate your time, charitable contributions, or your talents.
Here are some ways in which you can be generous:
Donate to the Green Shoe Foundation
Volunteer at a local community organization
Rake up your neighbor’s leaves without expecting anything in return
Buy the coffee or meal for the car behind you in the drive-thru
Write thank you notes for friends, family members, or co-workers
Donate clothes to a secondhand store
Offer a kind word or a smile to someone who seems to be struggling
This is a wonderful time of year, and we encourage you to discover where you can display gifts of generosity and gratitude toward others.