Everyone knows that giving is never a one-way deal. A donation to a charitable organization, for instance, may lead to strengthening the role of individuals and the meaning of giving in the society. However, sending a gift to a friend or standing by a family member who suffers from the difficulties of life increases your relationship with him. At least, you may get thanks or you might have a feeling that is sought in our time by people of high determination and hearts that spread goodness constantly in their communities.
So, if you really want to reap the benefits of giving to others, then give up waiting for thanks, admiration or praise because it's a quick punch of pleasure. Rather, the feeling of happiness is deeper and lasting in the good deed that no one knows you did. Intuitively, what gift would be virtuous - if I may say so- if you knew who would receive it, but not the other way around!
Not to mention, it's almost certain that making a donation or giving in cash isn't the only resource you can provide to your community. Offering, for example, your experience, your energy and your passion can provide great benefits for the happiness of others as well as you. Certainly, volunteering is one of the many ways of giving and sometimes the volunteer may be unknown, seeking reward from God. However, you can at least refrain from flaunting it on social media!
Nevertheless, I firmly believe here that our passion should be the basis of our giving. It's not about how much we give, but how much love we put into that giving. Moreover, when we give to others, we not only make them feel closer to us, but we also feel closer to them. Thus when we give, we are not only helping the direct recipient of our gift for instance. We also trigger a multiplier effect of generosity through our community. Of course, you agree with me that when a person behaves generously, it inspires the observers to subsequently act generously towards different people.
On the other hand, acts of giving and kindness also play a protective role when it comes to our mental health. Including that these actions stimulate (dopamine and endorphins) in the brain regions and thus make us feel happy and positive and affect our perception and emotions and increase our self-esteem. By our giving and kindness to others we also prevent ourselves from falling victim to depression, anxiety and other mental health problems.
Whether you're buying gifts, volunteering your time, or donating money to charity in your community, your donation is ultimately much more than a chore. Whatever you give, it gives meaning to every day that you and others live with. Also, help you build stronger social bonds by launching a series of ongoing giving and through your community...don't be surprised if you find yourself benefiting from a huge dose of happiness every day from your giving.
Dr Yousuf Ali al mulla is a physician, a medical innovator and a writer.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
