We can all relate to that warm fuzzy feeling we experience when giving a loved one a thoughtful gift - seeing their face light up with surprise and joy is priceless. Well, research shows that not only does this feel good, but it is good for your health. The act of giving has a domino effect, from the giver to the receiver and even a broader positive impact on those around. It is contagious, which is part of why Christmas is such a wonderful time of year; it is a bountiful holiday that we can all benefit from, beginning with small all the way to big grand gestures; the power of giving is real.
Generosity is excellent for the brain; it sparks a release of chemicals that encourage a sense of peace and fulfilment. Giving affects us biologically because it stimulates the brain's reward centre associated with connection, achievement and trust. It then emits familiar feel-good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin and happy endorphins that feel like a surge of joy internally, also known as the ‘helper’s high’. Good deeds and acts of generosity certainly bring short-term happiness, but the more you practice this, the greater the long-term positive impacts are. Studies show that giving creates a sense of purpose and lifestyle satisfaction, whether through your time, knowledge, volunteering or gifts.
And this content feeling is not just in your head. Giving has been proven to also be good for your physical health. It has been known to help reduce stress levels; Yale University conducted a study demonstrating that giving and helping others can effectively manage stress and everyday worries. The researchers found that on the days the participants could help or support others, they could handle higher stress levels. Compared to the days when they couldn't, they reported feeling more negative and overwhelmed by the same tasks. This study proved that putting others before yourself helps to shift your perspective and put less pressure on your situation, so you can alleviate the intensity of lingering anxiety by giving back. Chronic stress has a massive impact on your mental and physical health, so by reducing it, you can lower blood pressure, therefore lowering the risk of heart disease or strokes, adding long, happy years to your life.
It is no secret that the act of giving has an incredible effect on the community and creates healthy social connections. The ripple effect of giving means that the more you give, the more you get back; it is a channel of love that generates a sense of trust and confidence between each other. Giving can strengthen the bonds in both our close relationships and general acquaintances, establishing a connecting harmony within our various social worlds.
Sociological research has also demonstrated that giving is quite literally contagious; it promotes a chain reaction of copied behaviour. By doing a good deed, you are passing this act on to others down the line, who will keep repeating the path of giving in different ways. In fact, generous behaviour by one person can filter through to hundreds of people they never have and may never meet, but the sentiment of giving keeps moving. Your generosity can set off a cascade of altruism into the world, which is pretty amazing to think about.
One of the greatest gifts in life is gratitude. Gratitude means contentment, appreciation, and peace that are integral to our overall happiness and health. By giving a gift, whatever it may be, you encourage the acknowledgement of value and thoughtfulness in both yourself and the receiver. To be aware of your good fortune and the blessings in your life, you are more inclined to feel optimistic and channel a positive energy that opens more doors and more opportunities to grow, influencing the same emotions in those around you. Share your love and kindness this Christmas with a gracious heart, and watch the wonder of giving surround you.