Six Reasons Giving is Good for You

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“It is not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” – Mother Teresa

This post was originally published on a different site on 12/20/2023. Heads up – you may have already read this.

My eight-year-old daughter and I were hurrying into a store to grab a couple of holiday things the other day. When she asked about the Salvation Army bell ringer out front, I gave her a couple of dollars to put in the pot. She was hesitant so we did it together. As she wiggled the bills into the slot, the bell ringer paused for a moment and asked, “Do you know what this money goes for?”

My daughter shook her head “no.”

The bell ringer leaned in to look her right in the eye, and said, “If people don’t have money for rent or to buy food or money for presents, it’ll help.”

My daughter replied, “So people can buy toys for their kids!” and walked away smiling.

The Greater Good lab at Berkeley offers some research back evidence that there are five ways giving is transformative.

  1. Giving makes us feel happy
  2. Giving is good for our health
  3. Giving promotes cooperation and social connection
  4. Giving evokes gratitude
  5. Giving is contagious

And there’s a bonus reason as well. Research shows that people that donate money earn MORE the next year. It’s not that there is a cosmic hand that makes it so (not to say there isn’t a cosmic hand but the research doesn’t prove it one way or another, of course!). But the explanation was that it makes us feel so good that we are more happy and effective at our jobs. How’s that for lining up giving and our self-interest?

So, if you are looking for a way to earn more at your job next year, let me suggest the Fulginiti Family Trio’s holiday song fundraiser led by Todd Fulginiti. You get to both listen to a great song and help a good cause addressing homelessness in Lancaster, PA.

I hope that all the giving of the season is leaving you feeling healthy, happy, grateful, and connected!

(featured photo from Pexels)

65 thoughts on “Six Reasons Giving is Good for You”

  1. I love seeing this post again and being reminded how these lessons are being embedded into Ms O and Mr D’s lives.

    Giving can be a healing act and it’s not only monetary giving but also through giving our time through volunteering. What an interesting research into the correlation between giving and receiving as well!

    Liked by 2 people

  3. An important message, Wynne. Thanks for sharing it. Giving is a win-win, it helps the receiver and also helps the donor in all the ways you say and more. This is the giving time of year, but really, the need is there all year long.

    Liked by 2 people

  11. I wrote today about going for a walk this weekend. But then I read your wonderful post. It’s gotten me thinking: “Giving is good for our health.” Does this mean I can say the heck with 5 am wake-up call and walking and instead just hunt down the nearest Salvation Army bell ringer. That sounds wonderful to me. Ha, ha. Beautiful post.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Terrific reasons to support any giving opportunity. As we talked about today, gifts don’t have to be financial to make them worthwhile.

    Liked by 2 people

  13. This warms my heart. Your daughter has a heart of gold, she smiles at the thought of helping someone buy toys for their kids. Giving money is one way but also giving someone your time, lending an ear, sharing a batch of cookies with the neighbors. So many ways to be generous with each other and we benefit even more from the joy we feel. Amazing. Love this Wynne. Hugs, C

    Liked by 3 people

  14. I’ll admit, when I was younger, I was all about getting. But it sure does feel good to give! In fact, I pride myself on how far I’ve come. I have blossomed into a first-rate gift giver if I do say so myself. I love that Miss O is learning these lessons early.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you for the heads up about SPAM. That’s so weird! Doesn’t WP know we’ve been trading comments for years?

      From your posts, I’d second that you are a first-rate gift giver! It does feel good, doesn’t it? Happy Sunday, Mark!

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Yes, 🙌🏼 to the five ways giving is transformative—so true. I loved Miss O’s response. It’s wonderful that she understood, and what an awesome action by the Salvation Army volunteer! Taking the time to explain what giving is all about. Excellent, Wynne.

    Liked by 2 people

  17. Thank you for sharing your insights on the benefits of giving! I really enjoyed the story about your daughter and the bell ringer; it was heartwarming and a great reminder of how simple acts of kindness can have such a positive impact. I appreciate the research you included as well—it’s always nice to see the science behind what we know intuitively. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to reading more!

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  19. great post, Wynne ; incidentally I donated twice yesterday, big time for me, once to a downcast Salvation Army man who immediately brightened up 🙂 I lit up too; and the words of Jesus and the Apostle Paul celebrate the act of giving. I wish the NEWS services celebrated it more and less of the meanness and cruelty of the world

    Liked by 1 person

  21. A wonderful post and reminder for this holiday season, Wynne. I love giving; it is very gratifying, and the good news is that we can give all year long. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, and I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas! ❤️🎄

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Such a brilliant point – we can do it all year long. Thank you, Lauren! Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas! We can’t wait for our copy of Cora’s Quest to arrive. Should be any day!

      Liked by 1 person

  24. As a Christian, I do believe in a cosmic force. One that says “Give and it shall be given to you.” My husband spent his life, first in the USAF and then as a pastor of small churches. His income was never more than just enough to get by. He retired with an USAF pension, but no savings of any kind. As we were generous throughout our ministry – giving from the little we had, I imagined we would retire to some small, run-down home. Today we live in a beautiful condo in a beautiful subdivision and I often pinch myself to realize how good we have ended up. We have also been able to travel in our retirement years and see much of our beautiful country. And I still can’t explain it. It seems our money stretches far more than it should. But I believe God has blessed us.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Wow, Barb — this is such an incredible example of the mystery of giving and God. Absolutely beautiful. I love your sentence, “It seems our money stretches far more than it should!” So good! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

      Liked by 1 person

  26. I think the older we get, the more we appreciate giving vs. receiving. At least that has been the case in my life. I’m glad Miss O is learning such important life lessons at a young age!

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Years ago a friend taught me her grandmother had told her to give with an open hand, which means to give generously when we see a need.

    There are so many opportunities throughout the year, and around the holiday time there are many needs.

    My work gives to United Way and for the past few years I’ve spearheaded the efforts of adopting a needy family through their 100Neediest families program. I like to choose the biggest family with the greatest needs, and each years our department has risen to the occasion. When I prepare the lists that get emailed out, not only do we list the first name, gender, age and sizes, but I put in a list of needs and a wishlist of things each person wants. We also create an online portal so people can donate towards expenses the family has.

    Giving is one of this things that gives me great pleasure, and I’ve learned to search for ways that are impactful.

    In the winter I keep a bag in the car that I’ve stashed sandwich bags with a pair of good quality socks and often a couple packets of EmergenC. When I’m at a stoplight and someone is panhandling, I can give them a couple. I don’t often carry small bills, so having something ready is great.

    If someone is sitting outside a grocery store panhandling, I’ll buy them a takeout dinner, for often the stores or fast food restaurants don’t allow them to enter even if they have money.

    There are many small ways we can help a person to feel seen as a human and not a human filth.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks Wynne, yes, it has been wonderful so far! Hope yours has been too!

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