People feel good when they make a charitable donation, but they feel even better if they make the donation directly to someone they know or in a way that builds social connection. Research investigates for the first time how social connection helps turn generous behavior into positive feelings on the part of the donor.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University, in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, and University of British Columbia, Vancouver and Harvard Business School, Massachusetts, USA, wanted to examine the emotional benefits of giving to charity. They carried out three studies of charitable donations, and found that spending money on others or giving money to charity leads to the greatest happiness boost when giving builds a social connection. The conclusion is that donors feel happiest if they give to a charity via a friend, relative or social connection rather than simply making an anonymous donation to a worthy cause.
-International Journal of Happiness and Development, ScienceDaily
Dr. Keith & Laurie Nemec comments on “It is Better to Give than Receive”
We were designed by God to give. It is in the core of our being. We will always feel better, be healthier and live longer when we give. This all starts from the source and that is giving thanks to God our Father for all that He has done for us and for the very breath we breathe because of Him.
If you want to make a bad situation better just give a gift. This gift can be a kind word, a nice gesture, helping someone in need, or simple giving a smile and saying hello. What would the world be like if everyone came to give instead of get. This truly would be His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
So remember Thanksgiving is not about food it is about FAMILY and most importantly God’s Family which you are a member of. How blessed are we to be a part of the Family of God. It doesn’t get better than this. So go out and let the world know what kind of Family you come from
We cover this shift in thinking in the Sally & George Going Deeper audio series.
When you are filled up and overflowing it is so natural to give to those around you.
