Here we are at the festive period.
Many of us begin to hear “Christmas gift pressure” and we start thinking about the most memorable and most beautiful gifts we have received. But very often we say that it is the thought that matters and in fact, most likely, some of the gifts that made us more liked to receive have not cost a lot of money, but those who made us have committed themselves to thinking something for us who remained so impressed.
It is not to be surprised if the act of giving gifts leaves us with a positive emotional experience. That feeling is real, and now even scientific evidence shows how altruism is collected with happiness.
The research suggests that by making an act of generosity we get something very important in return: that feeling of happiness and “good vibrations”. These are the benefits of “giving” (which cannot be purchased in stores!):
- Gives a mutual positive feeling. It is normal and expected that you feel happy when you receive a gift, but during the exchange the donor also feels the same happiness, and sometimes he experiences a level of joy even higher than those who receive! The grandiose thing is that to experience this emotion of “generalized heat” there is no need for necessarily materials. It can be experienced even when we engage in acts of altruism, how to use a little time for a noble cause or help others.
- It can improve the state of health. Being a person who gives has an impact on well -being and physical health. Studies show that the impinse in service acts to others, such as volunteering, give their moral support or simply provide assistance to the people around us can increase longevity, lower stress and anxiety, and also increase the well -being and quality of life for those who suffer from chronic diseases, such as HIV, hypertension and multiple sclerosis. A study published in the American Journal of the Medical Sciences shows how simply showing a smile can already reduce the level of stress hormones and according to some researchers from the University of Loma Linda, in California, laughing is like doing gymnastics, with the same benefits that derive from the practice of moderate physical activity. After a series of studies started since the 1980s, the US experts have come to the conclusion that the “exercise of the smile” is able to reduce the levels of stress hormones, strengthen the immune system, decrease the pressure values and those of bad cholesterol. And the smile is perhaps the easiest “social” gift to make!
- It contributes to building the “community” and the sense of belonging to it. Studies show that the state of the community of belonging, the relationship with the neighbors, the rhythm and emotional climate of one’s neighborhood has a significant effect on the quality of life of those who are part of it. One of the ways to forge and strengthen connections in your community is through giving. When you offer your time, competence, attention and resources for others, a sense of unity and trust is promoted in the social circle, which is the foundation of a healthy and rich community.
- Increases the sense of gratitude. Another way to instill optimism and vibrant energy in your life and promote mental well -being is to have a sense of appreciation and gratitude for the things you receive. That’s why acts of generosity, the exchange of gifts with another person and sharing strengthen ties.
- Contributes to a possible lasting change. The real act of donating involves giving something without expecting anything in return. But to give a gift to someone, make a contribution, make a random act of kindness, a smile or perform a good action, the way to a chain effect, triggering similar actions in the others, which make the Christmas holidays (and perhaps the world the world around us) more kind and significant.
