What’s more satisfying: Giving or receiving? As much as ads implore us to indulge ourselves, research points to a stronger promotion of happiness through giving.
No matter how strapped we may feel when times are tough, any gesture of kindness can become a source of immense satisfaction. Just the other day, I heard someone who is homeless describe how good it felt to give properly fitting shoes to someone who didn’t have a pair that fit well.
We can challenge ourselves by giving anonymously. We can give to those we care about, but perhaps there’s a greater sense of altruism if we also give in ways that take the personal links to ourselves out of the process. After all, we’re all in this tiny world together, making it less of an issue of where the giving is coming from, and more about the mere fact that the giving is taking place.
