We are living at serious times when everyone is about “Me, Myself & I.” A society that is not mindful of others is destined to perish. There are blessings attached with giving and teaching the society from little ones the importance of being philanthropic can build a loving, happy, and healthy generation.
One renowned marketer Dan Kennedy once said, “The window you receive through is made bigger by the window you give through.” It’s a simple principle to follow like demonstrated here at Yadezra.net although many feel challenged to accept this school of thought. Let’s dive to see the benefit associated with giving.
Why it is Important to Teach about Giving
When you compare those who are philanthropic and those who are not there is a big difference. The givers appear to be more happy, satisfied, and healthier. According to psychology professor from the University of British Columbia (Canada), said that money does not lead to happiness as many assume. For many people, loving what you do which you will see in quotes on passion, may be the act of giving. The professor further said a study was done on a group of people who were given money to spend it as they wish. Among the group, those who chose to give during their spending were the happiest.
Teaching a society to give is in other words it means, no man is an island, and therefore they need to be there for others where it is more beneficial than self-satisfaction. Another scenario was that of people with high blood pressure. When they gave to others, the pressure dropped instantly, but it did not change spending money on themselves.
Start with Children
It is not easy to undo a habit in society that is deeply rooted. However, teaching the young ones the benefit of giving while they are at a tender age transforms the entire generation. A study was done of the countries that were most generous and the top 5 that emerged were Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, USA, and Ireland. It was discovered that from the study, the ones who gave were the most were the happiest.
If the little ones were taught earlier to start sharing toys with their siblings, neighbor’s playmates, and though it may appear simple thing to teach, the impact it builds lasts for a lifetime. According to Marilyn Price Mitchell (Developmental psychologist) said that children who show a gesture of kindness to others experience increased popularity, wellbeing, and appreciation among peers. The teaching starts with the adults showing the way by holding activities where children become involved. It can be visiting the less fortunate ones in the society, children’s home, homeless people, and any other needy person in society. Parents can be engaged to start the process at home where they educate the young ones the importance of giving to others. Through those simple acts of giving, it teaches them to be responsible people and effective in the society. If children are taught the importance of giving when they are young, they will take these values into later life, creating a society that is kinder and more understanding of others. By visiting and helping people who are less fortunate than them, their eyes will be opened to the importance of carrying out acts of kindness and giving back.
Making it a Purpose
What motivates you to do what you do? For a family man or mother dedicated to any work to provide for the family, security, and joy of having to contribute your time for the business/company. The way you feel is no different from making it a purpose to better others’ lives through giving. One renowned figure known for being a philanthropist is Bill Gates. Through the foundation Bill & Melinda Gates, up to today, it is estimated to have contributed over $30 billion to charities. You can imagine the impact Bill Gates has imparted to others globally.
Therefore, having a society that is educated about the benefits of giving, in the end, it will be happy, healthy, and rich.
Make it your profession
Many people choose their jobs purely based on the amount of money they can earn, not because they particularly enjoy what they do. Others aren’t money focused and would rather have a fulfilling career. If you can’t afford to give away billions of pounds to a charity like Bill Gates, there are other ways in which selflessness can prevail, and you can give back to society.
Many careers out there are geared towards helping people, and having a giving nature is a highly desired characteristic. It doesn’t matter what level of education or qualifications you have. If it is your life’s ambition to help others, there is a career suitable to all abilities.
Jobs in customer service are centered around helping and giving, with representatives in this field going above and beyond to answer their customers’ questions, deal with their complaints, and assist them in finding the perfect solution for them. Jobs in customer service can be incredibly rewarding, especially if you have a customer who appreciates your hard work.
Teaching can also be a very rewarding career path to take. Dedicating your life to educating children and shaping the next generation is very fulfilling and makes the challenges and pressure of the job worth it. Teachers can make a real difference in the lives of children, and seeing the development and improvement made in pupils over a period of time can give you a great sense of achievement.
The current coronavirus pandemic has shone a light on the importance of all healthcare staff, from doctors to healthcare assistants, administration staff, and home carers, who are committed to improving the quality of life and health of those who need it. However, the pressures of the pandemic have seen a worrying rise in healthcare nursing shortage statistics which has laid bare the need for more nurses. Selflessness is a key characteristic that nurses have. Committing themselves to looking after patients makes a great difference to those who are sick and their families, making it one of the most giving career paths out there. Nurses are in high demand right now, and although a challenging career, it is incredibly rewarding, and nurses are always learning new skills because of this. Nursing is an exciting and rewarding career. They help to improve people’s lives and offer comfort when they are frightened or anxious about being in a healthcare setting. Nurses work with lots of different people from all walks of life and have good options for progression.
Volunteer your free time
Giving can come in all forms, and what you choose to give doesn’t have to be of high monetary value. If you find that you have some downtime in your weekly schedule, you could give up your spare time to help others. There are no rules as to how much of your time you should give up, and you could volunteer as little as half an hour of your week to a good cause. If you have a neighbor who is in their senior years, little things like going around for a cup of coffee and a quick chat, walking their dog for them, or offering to pick up some groceries for them when you next go to the store are examples of small gestures you can make to improve the quality of someone else’s life.
If you are able to give up more of your time than this, you could volunteer at your local church, soup kitchen, library, or kids’ club. If you would like to do something to increase the sense of togetherness in your local community, you could host an event for others. Whether you choose to put on a bake sale, book club, or litter pick in your area, these events are sure to bring people together.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how much time you have to volunteer. Making just the smallest gesture of kindness can make the biggest difference in people’s lives.
It boosts happiness
It has been proven that the act of giving, whether that’s physical gifts or volunteering, can boost the health and happiness of the person who is doing the giving—seeing the positive effects of giving releases endorphins in the brain, which in turn activate the areas of the brain connected to pleasure and social connection which help to produce a positive feeling. People who give are also more likely to inspire the people who they give to, to do the same, which means that their selflessness is almost always rewarded.
Giving strengthens social relationships, making people feel a closer connection which is essential to boosting mental health.
Conclusion
From society level to personal level, giving can bring a sense of joy and fulfillment through improving others livelihood. The real joy comes where you give with no expectation from the receiver. Finally, society should be taught that giving is for everyone whether rich or poor and so next time you feel demotivated, give to others and see the benefits.