Page 150 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2022

HEALTHY LIVING
The Psychology of Giving
story by Luke Height
Whenever the holiday season comes around, we all look forward to receiving gifts from our partners, family, and friends. When that little red box gets placed in our hands, our hearts open and our eyes light up like the stars in the sky. On the other side of the coin, we also get to give gifts and it can produce the same, if not an even better, feeling.
Giving is part of connecting to one another, it’s a love language. Research by Psychological Science shows, “the happiness we feel after a particular event or activity diminishes each time we experience that event, a phenomenon known as hedonic adaptation. But giving to others may be the exception to this rule.” In other words, the feeling we get from receiving gifts comes and goes very quickly. On the other hand, when we give a gift, the feeling of satisfaction and joy stays with us much, much longer.
When we give gifts to others, it says, “I’m thinking about you.”
It’s kind and thoughtful, it’s an act of selflessness that makes us feel good inside. More than just gifts to friends and family, we can give to others in need through charitable acts. Organizations such as Loaves and Fishes, Back Bay Mission, and Catholic Charities Food Bank are always looking for more community help and are great resources for giving to those in need.
The reality is, we can always find ways to give more to those around us and it will bring more joy than receiving. We can give our time and energy to our family and friends when they need help or a shoulder to cry on. We can give gifts and presents to people we love, we can give to local shelters and we can give donations to causes we believe in.
Whenever you decide to become a giver, the feeling you’ll get will be extremely rewarding. With all the psychological benefits of giving, take it upon yourself to offer up whatever you can this holiday season and notice the positive effects.
150 | December 2022
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