Generosity
When was the last time you were generous towards someone else? Whether it was paying for your friend’s coffee, spending time volunteering at XYZ, helping someone carry something in even though you were busy, etc.? Can you pinpoint the last generous moment you had, or maybe even one that felt meaningful to you or the other person?
Generosity can feel tricky. Our minds immediately go to money, which can cause a lot of anxiety. How can I be generous when I barely have enough for my own needs or wants? Or if time is a bigger issue - how can I volunteer somewhere when I’m working overtime? How can I help someone else out when school takes up so much time?
Like I said, generosity is tricky. However, it impacts our brains and mental health in positive ways that make giving your money or time, no matter how big or small, worth it. In a study conducted by the University of Zurich (UZH), researchers were interested in determining how much generosity was required to make the brain light up. There were two groups in this study. One was asked to be generous to others, and the other group was asked to be generous only towards themselves and stingy towards others. They were both given an amount of money to use (Bergland, 2017).
They found that in the group that was generous towards others, the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) lit up, which is connected to altruism properties (concern for others). The ventral striatum and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) also lit up, which is connected to the reward center and feel-good areas of our brains. Those who did not display generosity towards others did not show neural activity in these areas. They also found that it did not matter what degree the person was generous. The smallest of acts could make the brain light up (Bergland, 2017).
Furthermore, generosity has proven to increase self-esteem, lessen depression, lower stress levels, and create more happiness and satisfaction with life (Cleveland Clinic, 2020). The evidence is there. Generosity is good for you!
So, what are some small acts of generosity that we can do?
Find a local charity and commit to donating every month, even if it’s just $5-10
Write a positive review about your favorite restaurant to help boost their rating
Volunteer for a couple hours at a local nonprofit once a month or once every couple weeks
If your friend is sick, offer to pick up their groceries or make them a warm meal
Pay for the person behind you in the fast-food or coffee line
Offer to drive your sister to practice so your mom can catch a break
Compliment a couple people you see during the day
Generosity doesn’t have to look like huge donations or days spent helping someone out (though it can if you want!). Generosity can be small acts of kindness, and it’s proven that those can be just as beneficial. How could our mental health improve if we chose generosity?
References:
Bergland, C. (2017). Small acts of generous behavior can make your brain happier. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201707/small-acts-generous-behavior-can-make-your-brain-happier.
Why giving is good for your health. (2020). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-giving-is-good-for-your-health/.
Challenges/Points:
Being generous can often feel like a tricky thing to do, but it has great benefits for our mental health and brain health.
Generosity doesn’t always have to look like huge donations or 20 hours volunteering/week. It can be small and simple.
Find a way to be generous this week and carry it out.
Questions:
What did you do the last time you were generous?
How often are you generous?
What are you planning on doing this week to carry out some generosity?
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