Growing Through Giving
Acts of generosity can be of kindness, selflessness, and compassion. In other words, being generous doesn’t require you to put yourself at risk financially. There are endless ways to contribute to your community and enrich the lives of those around you. Whether you want to be charitable in the form of monetary donation or the use of your free time and energy, you can be a thoughtful and loving member of the community.
Generosity and Mental Health
Serving others is great for your mental health! Although you may not be giving for your own gain, mental health is a compelling reason to do so. Giving to those you care about will make them happy and grateful, which in turn, makes you happy too! It also makes them more likely to help you out in the future (which your brain recognizes as an unending cycle of giving and receiving).
Even when you act kindly or generously to a stranger, it’s probable that they’ll mimic the act, and the next person will do the same, and so on. Knowing that you created this impactful cycle, which can affect one or multiple people, is an amazing feeling. Providing for others is an instinct for many humans, so it satisfies our brains to give to others. For more positive mental health effects of generosity, read this article. If you’re not sure how to start being generous, read along to see what spending-free generosity can look like.
Reaching Out a Helping Hand
Charitability toward friends and family can be shown in many ways:
- Send a handwritten letter of affirmation or words of encouragement.
- Offer your time to watch kids or pets, help someone move, say “yes” when asked for help with something.
- Invite friends over for a homemade meal and quality time.
- Give advice if someone is going through a rough patch in life.
- Offer to run errands with, or for, someone if they are particularly busy and stressed.
Here are some other examples of ways to be generous that are free and easy.
If you do have the means to spend more, you can:
- Take a friend out for dinner and good conversation.
- Take a niece or nephew to a movie to distract their mind for a while.
- Buy a family member something that always brightens their day: coffee, candy, flowers, or snacks.
- Make someone a care package (this one is perfect for a friend or family member who’s sick, or even if they aren’t!).
- Pay for a neighbor to get a massage or spa treatment.
Thoughtfully giving your time and/or money to your friends and family is a wonderful way to show that you care. You don’t have to give all your time and money to friends, though. Sometimes giving to those who you don’t know results in an even bigger effect on the world around you.
What You Can Give to Your Community
If you’re looking to be a generous member of the community, there are endless possibilities. You can give your time to the environment by picking up trash around your neighborhood or gather a group of friends to clean up along the highways. If you’re wanting to help those in need, consider these options:
- Buy a homeless person a meal (or multiple) or give them some cash.
- Donate clothes to a used clothing store or a crisis shelter.
- Donate blood or plasma.
- If you’ve got luscious locks, donate your hair, here.
- Volunteer at your local animal shelter.
- Serve at a crisis shelter.
- Contribute to or start a community garden.
For other opportunities to volunteer and enrich the lives of those in your community, check out this website.
Don’t Stop Giving
Once you start giving and build your generosity, it’ll be hard for you to stop—so don’t. Keep giving time, thoughts, and love to those around you, because you never know who needs it. You could save someone’s life just by showing a little kindness and compassion. Every time you give, you plant the seed of generosity. If you continue to plant these seeds, you will see them grow in your community.
Acts of kindness are an exhibit of leadership. Read this blog about more acts of kindness you can do in your community.
