The joy that receiving gifts brings is nothing compared to giving out gifts. According to Goldie Hawn’s quote that says: “Giving back is as good for you as it is for those you are helping because giving gives you purpose,” there is a purpose that drives the force of giving.
Sharing enriches lives and brings inner happiness to those that help others to get better lives.
Scientific and academic research over thousands of years in human history has affirmed that attaining happiness, feeling fulfilled, and adding meaning to life has been connected to making others happy.
The life of Mother Teresa is proof of this. She found purpose in helping others and putting a smile on people’s faces. The distress and pain that people passed through, brought serenity and peace to them, and she felt fulfilled by following this cause.
Why Should You Give?
The regular answers to this question include it makes me feel good, it is good to be kind to others, it is good to share, etc. but the truth is that there is a deeper meaning to giving than the answers people give.
Scientists have confirmed that self-esteem directly proportional to happiness. When you are consumed with your worries and struggles, you are likely to be depressed and battle with low self-esteem. You will become consumed in your own world, and you are not going to find happiness through that.
Giving offers you the chance to happiness by making you look beyond your own little world. You view the world with a different perspective and see the bigger picture. Then you step out and enter into another world: the world of other people.
At this point, you care less about yourself and your worries and challenges. Your concerns will become less important when compared to what others are going through. This act of giving will make you feel fulfilled, boost your self-esteem, and increase your happiness level.
How Can You Give To The Society?
One of the best ways to invest in achieving happiness is giving to society. This art is called philanthropy which means love for humanity. Philanthropy has been here since the start of humanity and has become part of us.
It does not have to be extravagant. The best thing about philanthropy is that it can be as small as helping your neighbors with simple tasks or helping the elders carry their groceries to their doorstep.
Philanthropic efforts ultimately work in eradicating problems in the society, improving the livelihood of the community and the world at large.
These are ways that you can give back to society.
Giving time: there is a popular saying that time is money. Your time is as valuable as money. Volunteering at schools, non-profit organizations, etc. will make a difference in the lives of the community.
Volunteering in charity and fundraiser events: there are causes that you are passionate about and those causes will motivate you to help others. When charity events that support those causes come up, you should participate there regardless of the location.
Planting a tree: trees are needed to reduce carbon dioxide toxicity in the environment, release more oxygen and improve the wellbeing of people inhaling the air. So planting a tree is saving a life.
Act of kindness to people: a simple act of help to your neighbors will put a smile on their face and strengthen the bond of the neighborhood. To leave a lasting impression, be generous and kind to your neighbors.
Helping the children and youth: improving the wellbeing and health of children and youth means saving their lives and giving them hope for the future. Providing them with basic needs like food, shelter, clothing, school materials, sanitary pads, etc. will make a lot of difference in their lives.
In turn, they will grow up to be a grateful soul and will want to extend the same gesture to the helpless children and youths around them. This a good cycle that will improve society.
Supporting scientific research: philanthropic arts support scientific research and the creation of new innovations that can help improve the wellbeing of people and society at large. Funding the creation and distribution of vaccines will eradicate diseases in society.
A Chinese quote says that: “if you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
When happiness is given, it is received because, in giving, we receive. We can all impact our society in our little way. The joy that comes with seeing the tears of joy, the gratitude that cannot be expressed and the smile on the faces of people you have helped are enough to give you true happiness.
Support a cause today, help a child today, put a smile on your neighbors face today and you will be happy.
Thank you!
Written by: Deborah Adeniyi, guest writer for EOF
