giving presents essay

THE JOY OF GIVING: The more you give of yourself, the more you find of yourself

We all know how great it feels to receive gifts. However, the joy of getting is short-lived. Our lives are richer when we share, and that great inner joy comes from helping others to better their lives.

Truly giving from the heart fills your life with joy and nourishes your soul. Giving provides an intrinsic reward that’s far more valuable than the gift. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “To find yourself, lose yourself in the service of others.”

Giving takes you out of yourself and allows you to expand beyond earthly limitations. True joy lies in the act of giving without an expectation of receiving something in return.

Academic research and thousands of years of human history confirm that achieving meaning, fulfillment, and happiness in life comes from making others happy, and not from being self-centred. Mother Teresa is a famous example. She found fulfillment in giving of herself to others. She helped change the expression on dying people’s faces from distress and fear to calmness and serenity. She made their undeniable pain a little easier to bear.

Adventure, Height, Climbing, Mountain, Peak, Summit

When people are asked why they give, the readiest answers include: God wants me to; I feel better about myself; others need, and I have; I want to share; it’s only right. The question I would ask is how did you feel? I imagine you felt very pleased with yourself and happy inside.

It has been my experience that when you’re focused on giving to others you’re less likely to become consumed by your own concerns and challenges. Giving provides an opportunity to look beyond our own world and see the bigger picture.

A great perspective can be achieved by stepping out of our own world and venturing into the world of other people. Your worries and challenges may not seem as significant when compared to other people’s situations.

The act of giving kindles self-esteem and brings happiness. Scientists have discovered that happiness is related to how much gratitude you show. After several years of soul searching, I discovered that my unhappiness was due to my want for things to fill the void of loneliness.

My search for inner happiness led me towards gratitude. During this process of self-realization, I also discovered “ The Purpose of Living.” Yes, I believe that giving thanks makes you happier. But don’t take my word for it—try it out for yourself.

The power of giving and the joy of helping others

Giving is one of the best investments you can make towards achieving genuine happiness. True giving comes from the heart, with no expectation of reciprocation. You’ll find that the more you give, the more you’ll receive.

Frog giving another frog flowers - The joy of giving

The power of giving is manifested in the kindness and generosity that you bestow on someone else. When you give to another unselfishly, the vibrational energy emitting from your subconscious is at its strongest. The power of giving, according to neuroscience, is that it feels good.

A Chinese proverb says: “If you always give, you will always have.” A famous American author and management expert, Ken Blanchard, declared “The more I give away, the more comes back.”

If you find yourself feeling unhappy, try making someone else happy and see what happens. If you’re feeling empty and unfulfilled, try doing some meaningful and worthwhile work and see how you feel. The catch is that you must do this work with passion and enthusiasm.

There are many organizations, institutions and people who are engaged in exemplary works of giving. Narayanan Krishnan is a management graduate from Madurai, India who gave up his career as chef with a five-star hotel when he saw a man so hungry that he was feeding on his own excreta. From there on Krishnan started his noble initiative to feed thousands of destitute and homeless people in his state—free of cost.

Another example of giving is Sanjit “Bunker” Roy, founder of the Barefoot College . Since graduating from college in 1965, Mr. Roy has committed his life to serve the poor and to help rural communities become self-sufficient. The Barefoot College education program encourages learning-by-doing, such as training grandmothers from Africa and the Himalayan region to be solar engineers so they could bring electricity to their remote villages.

It’s the joy and love that we extend to others that brings true happiness or union with God. When we give, we reap the joy of seeing a bright smile, laughter, tears of joy and gratitude for life . We know that if people give just a little more—of their time, skills, knowledge, wisdom, compassion, wealth and love—the world would be a more peaceful and healthier place.

The rewards of giving are priceless. If you want to have happiness, you need to give happiness. If you want love, you need to give love. It is only in giving that you receive. No matter what your circumstances in life, you have the ability to give.

I encourage you to look for opportunities where you can give and help others. The gift of joy will come to you when you give of yourself to others. That’s what life is all about. Let’s practice and commit our lives to giving joy. Try it! It works!

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Gifts of one who loved me, — 'T was high time they came; When he ceased to love me, Time they stopped for shame.

In his essay "Gifts," Ralph Waldo Emerson delves into the intricacies of giving and receiving presents, emphasizing the importance of thoughtfulness, sincerity, and simplicity. He underscores that the true value of a gift lies not in its material worth but in the genuine expression of love, friendship, or gratitude it represents. For Emerson, the most meaningful gifts reflect the giver's understanding and appreciation of the recipient's character, needs, and desires, transcending the mere transactional nature of gift-giving.

Emerson also explores gift-receiving etiquette, stating that gracious acceptance is as crucial as giving. He encourages recipients to recognize the giver's intentions and appreciate the emotional significance behind the gift rather than focusing solely on its material aspects. By cultivating mindfulness and humility in giving and receiving, Emerson believes that individuals can strengthen their relationships and foster a more profound connection with one another.

I t is said that the world is in a state of bankruptcy, that the world owes the world more than the world can pay, and ought to go into chancery, and be sold. I do not think this general insolvency, which involves in some sort all the population, to be the reason of the difficulty experienced at Christmas and New Year, and other times, in bestowing gifts; since it is always so pleasant to be generous, though very vexatious to pay debts. But the impediment lies in the choosing. If, at any time, it comes into my head, that a present is due from me to somebody, I am puzzled what to give, until the opportunity is gone. Flowers and fruits are always fit presents; flowers, because they are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world. These gay natures contrast with the somewhat stern countenance of ordinary nature: they are like music heard out of a work-house. Nature does not cocker us: we are children, not pets: she is not fond: everything is dealt to us without fear or favor, after severe universal laws. Yet these delicate flowers look like the frolic and interference of love and beauty. Men use to tell us that we love flattery, even though we are not deceived by it, because it shows that we are of importance enough to be courted. Something like that pleasure, the flowers give us: what am I to whom these sweet hints are addressed? Fruits are acceptable gifts, because they are the flower of commodities, and admit of fantastic values being attached to them. If a man should send to me to come a hundred miles to visit him, and should set before me a basket of fine summerfruit, I should think there was some proportion between the labor and the reward.

For common gifts, necessity makes pertinences and beauty every day, and one is glad when an imperative leaves him no option, since if the man at the door have no shoes, you have not to consider whether you could procure him a paint-box. And as it is always pleasing to see a man eat bread, or drink water, in the house or out of doors, so it is always a great satisfaction to supply these first wants. Necessity does everything well. In our condition of universal dependence, it seems heroic to let the petitioner be the judge of his necessity, and to give all that is asked, though at great inconvenience. If it be a fantastic desire, it is better to leave to others the office of punishing him. I can think of many parts I should prefer playing to that of the Furies. Next to things of necessity, the rule for a gift, which one of my friends prescribed, is, that we might convey to some person that which properly belonged to his character, and was easily associated with him in thought. But our tokens of compliment and love are for the most part barbarous. Rings and other jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself. Thou must bleed for me. Therefore the poet brings his poem; the shepherd, his lamb; the farmer, corn; the miner, a gem; the sailor, coral and shells; the painter, his picture; the girl, a handkerchief of her own sewing. This is right and pleasing, for it restores society in so far to its primary basis, when a man's biography is conveyed in his gift, and every man's wealth is an index of his merit. But it is a cold, lifeless business when you go to the shops to buy me something, which does not represent your life and talent, but a goldsmith's. This is fit for kings, and rich men who represent kings, and a false state of property, to make presents of gold and silver stuffs, as a kind of symbolical sin-offering, or payment of black-mail.

The law of benefits is a difficult channel, which requires careful sailing, or rude boats. It is not the office of a man to receive gifts. How dare you give them? We wish to be self-sustained. We do not quite forgive a giver. The hand that feeds us is in some danger of being bitten. We can receive anything from love, for that is a way of receiving it from ourselves; but not from any one who assumes to bestow. We sometimes hate the meat which we eat, because there seems something of degrading dependence in living by it.

"Brother, if Jove to thee a present make, Take heed that from his hands thou nothing take."

We ask the whole. Nothing less will content us. We arraign society, if it do not give us besides earth, and fire, and water, opportunity, love, reverence, and objects of veneration.

He is a good man, who can receive a gift well. We are either glad or sorry at a gift, and both emotions are unbecoming. Some violence, I think, is done, some degradation borne, when I rejoice or grieve at a gift. I am sorry when my independence is invaded, or when a gift comes from such as do not know my spirit, and so the act is not supported; and if the gift pleases me overmuch, then I should be ashamed that the donor should read my heart, and see that I love his commodity, and not him. The gift, to be true, must be the flowing of the giver unto me, correspondent to my flowing unto him. When the waters are at level, then my goods pass to him, and his to me. All his are mine, all mine his. I say to him, How can you give me this pot of oil, or this flagon of wine, when all your oil and wine is mine, which belief of mine this gift seems to deny? Hence the fitness of beautiful, not useful things for gifts. This giving is flat usurpation, and therefore when the beneficiary is ungrateful, as all beneficiaries hate all Timons, not at all considering the value of the gift, but looking back to the greater store it was taken from, I rather sympathize with the beneficiary, than with the anger of my lord Timon. For, the expectation of gratitude is mean, and is continually punished by the total insensibility of the obliged person. It is a great happiness to get off without injury and heart-burning, from one who has had the ill luck to be served by you. It is a very onerous business, this of being served, and the debtor naturally wishes to give you a slap. A golden text for these gentlemen is that which I so admire in the Buddhist, who never thanks, and who says, "Do not flatter your benefactors."

The reason of these discords I conceive to be, that there is no commensurability between a man and any gift. You cannot give anything to a magnanimous person. After you have served him, he at once puts you in debt by his magnanimity. The service a man renders his friend is trivial and selfish, compared with the service he knows his friend stood in readiness to yield him, alike before he had begun to serve his friend, and now also. Compared with that good-will I bear my friend, the benefit it is in my power to render him seems small. Besides, our action on each other, good as well as evil, is so incidental and at random, that we can seldom hear the acknowledgments of any person who would thank us for a benefit, without some shame and humiliation. We can rarely strike a direct stroke, but must be content with an oblique one; we seldom have the satisfaction of yielding a direct benefit, which is directly received. But rectitude scatters favors on every side without knowing it, and receives with wonder the thanks of all people.

I fear to breathe any treason against the majesty of love, which is the genius and god of gifts, and to whom we must not affect to prescribe. Let him give kingdoms or flower-leaves indifferently. There are persons, from whom we always expect fairy tokens; let us not cease to expect them. This is prerogative, and not to be limited by our municipal rules. For the rest, I like to see that we cannot be bought and sold. The best of hospitality and of generosity is also not in the will, but in fate. I find that I am not much to you; you do not need me; you do not feel me; then am I thrust out of doors, though you proffer me house and lands. No services are of any value, but only likeness. When I have attempted to join myself to others by services, it proved an intellectual trick, — no more. They eat your service like apples, and leave you out. But love them, and they feel you, and delight in you all the time.

What did Emerson say about the gift giver and the gift receiver?

In his essay "Gifts," Ralph Waldo Emerson discusses the roles of both the gift giver and receiver, emphasizing the importance of thoughtfulness, sincerity, and understanding. According to Emerson, the true value of a gift lies in the expression of love, friendship, or gratitude it represents rather than its material worth.

For the gift giver, Emerson believes the most meaningful gifts reflect a deep understanding and appreciation of the recipient's character, needs, and desires. A thoughtful and sincere gift transcends the mere transactional nature of gift-giving and creates a meaningful connection between the giver and the receiver.

As for the gift receiver, Emerson stresses the importance of gracious acceptance. He encourages recipients to appreciate the emotional significance and intentions behind the gift rather than focusing solely on its material aspects. By doing so, the receiver acknowledges the giver's thoughtfulness and effort, cultivating mindfulness and humility.

In summary, Emerson's views on gift-giving and receiving revolve around the ideas of thoughtfulness, sincerity, and fostering deeper connections between individuals. He believes that both the giver and receiver have essential roles in making the exchange of gifts a meaningful and enriching experience.

What are the Rules of Gifts according to Emerson?

Ralph Waldo Emerson doesn't necessarily lay out specific "rules" for gift-giving in his essay "Gifts." Still, he does convey several important principles that can guide giving and receiving gifts. Some of these principles include:

Thoughtfulness: The most valuable gifts demonstrate a deep understanding of the recipient's character, needs, and desires. The gift should be chosen with care, reflecting the giver's genuine affection and appreciation for the recipient.

Sincerity: A gift should be an honest expression of love, friendship, or gratitude. It should come from the heart and not be given out of obligation or as a mere formality.

Simplicity: Emerson suggests simplicity is often the key to a significant gift. Extravagant or expensive gifts may not necessarily be more meaningful than simpler ones, especially if they lack a personal connection or thoughtfulness.

The gift's intrinsic value: The true worth of a gift lies not in its material value but in its emotional significance and the connection it creates between the giver and receiver.

Gracious acceptance: As a gift receiver, it is important to be mindful and humble, focusing on the emotional significance and intentions behind the gift rather than its material aspects.

Reciprocity: Emerson touches on the idea that gift-giving is often reciprocal but also emphasizes that it should not be a tit-for-tat exchange. The focus should remain on expressing genuine feelings and fostering a deeper connection between individuals.

In conclusion, while Emerson does not lay out specific rules for gift-giving and receiving, he emphasizes the importance of thoughtfulness, sincerity, simplicity, and graciousness in the process. The giver and receiver can create a more meaningful and enriching experience by following these principles.

Why do we find it difficult to receive gifts?

Receiving gifts can be difficult for some people due to various reasons, including the following:

Feelings of unworthiness: Some individuals may feel undeserving of gifts or attention, leading to discomfort when receiving presents. This could be rooted in low self-esteem, past experiences, or cultural beliefs.

Fear of obligation: Receiving a gift may create a sense of indebtedness, making the recipient feel as though they are now obligated to reciprocate the gesture. This pressure to give back can be uncomfortable and may cause some people to feel uneasy about accepting gifts.

Discomfort with vulnerability: Accepting a gift requires acknowledging that someone has thought about and cared for you, which can make some individuals feel vulnerable. This vulnerability may be challenging for those who prefer to maintain emotional distance or self-reliance.

Concerns about the gift's appropriateness: Some people may worry about the suitability of the gift, whether it is too expensive, too personal, or not aligned with their tastes or values. This concern can create unease when receiving a gift.

Fear of appearing greedy or materialistic: Accepting a gift might cause some individuals to worry about appearing selfish or overly focused on material possessions. This fear can make it difficult to accept a present graciously.

Cultural differences: In some cultures, accepting gifts may be associated with specific customs or expectations that can create anxiety or confusion. For example, certain cultures may dictate that a gift should be refused several times before finally accepting it or that an immediate reciprocal gift is required.

To overcome these difficulties, it is essential to cultivate gratitude and graciousness when receiving gifts. Remember that a gift is often an expression of love, friendship, or appreciation; accepting it graciously can strengthen relationships and foster a deeper connection with others.

What is the meaning of gift giving?

Gift-giving is a universal expression of various emotions, sentiments, and social bonds. It serves several purposes and carries different meanings depending on the context, culture, and personal intentions. Some of the key meanings and purposes of gift-giving include:

Expression of love, affection, or friendship: Gift-giving is often a way to show love and care for someone, reinforcing the emotional connection between the giver and the recipient.

Celebration or commemoration: Gifts are often given to mark special occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, or holidays, to celebrate and create lasting memories.

Expression of gratitude or appreciation: Giving a gift can be a token of thanks or recognition for someone's kindness, support, or hard work.

Strengthening social bonds: Gift-giving is essential in building and maintaining relationships, whether among family, friends, or colleagues. It promotes goodwill, trust, and reciprocity, fostering stronger social connections.

Cultural or religious traditions: Many cultures and religions have specific gift-giving customs and rituals, reflecting the values and beliefs of the community. In these contexts, gifts can carry deeper symbolic meanings and serve to uphold cultural identity and continuity.

Acts of generosity and charity: Giving gifts to those in need, such as through donations or volunteering, is an expression of compassion and empathy, contributing to the well-being of others and the greater good.

Overall, the meaning of gift-giving is multifaceted, encompassing emotional, social, cultural, and even spiritual dimensions. By giving and receiving gifts, individuals can express their feelings, strengthen relationships, and create lasting memories, making it an essential aspect of human interaction and connection.

Ralph Waldo Emerson left the ministry to pursue a career in writing and public speaking. Emerson became one of America's best known and best-loved 19th-century figures. More About Emerson

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"Every man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

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December 16, 2023

Why Do We Give Gifts? An Anthropologist Explains This Ancient Human Behavior

Gifts play an important role in human relationships and are about more than consumerism

By Chip Colwell & The Conversation US

Woman's arms in brown sweater holding gift wrapped in green paper with orange bow on black backdrop

Liliya Krueger/Getty Images

The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation , an online publication covering the latest research.

Have you planned out your holiday gift giving yet? If you’re anything like me, you might be waiting until the last minute. But whether every single present is already wrapped and ready, or you’ll hit the shops on Christmas Eve, giving gifts is a curious but central part of being human.

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While researching my new book, “ So Much Stuff ,” on how humanity has come to depend on tools and technology over the last 3 million years, I became fascinated by the purpose of giving things away. Why would people simply hand over something precious or valuable when they could use it themselves?

To me as an anthropologist , this is an especially powerful question because giving gifts likely has ancient roots . And gifts can be found in every known culture around the world.

So, what explains the power of the present?

Undoubtedly, gifts serve lots of purposes. Some psychologists have observed a “warm glow” – an intrinsic delight – that’s associated with giving presents. Theologians have noted how gifting is a way to express moral values, such as love, kindness and gratitude, in Catholicism , Buddhism and Islam . And philosophers ranging from Seneca to Friedrich Nietzsche regarded gifting as the best demonstration of selflessness. It’s little wonder that gifts are a central part of Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and other winter holidays – and that some people may even be tempted to regard Black Friday , the opening of the year-end shopping season, as a holiday in itself.

But of all the explanations for why people give gifts, the one I find most convincing was offered in 1925 by a French anthropologist named Marcel Mauss .

Giving, receiving, reciprocating

Like many anthropologists, Mauss was puzzled by societies in which gifts were extravagantly given away.

For example, along the northwest coast of Canada and the United States, Indigenous peoples conduct potlatch ceremonies. In these dayslong feasts, hosts give away immense amounts of property. Consider a famous potlatch in 1921 , held by a clan leader of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation in Canada who gave community members 400 sacks of flour, heaps of blankets, sewing machines, furniture, canoes, gas-powered boats and even pool tables.

In a now-famous essay titled “ The Gift ,” originally published almost a century ago, Mauss sees potlaches as an extreme form of gifting. Yet, he suggests this behavior is totally recognizable in most every human society: We give things away even when keeping them for ourselves would seem to make much more economic and evolutionary sense.

Mauss observed that gifts create three separate but inextricably related actions. Gifts are given, received and reciprocated.

The first act of giving establishes the virtues of the gift giver. They express their generosity, kindness and honor.

The act of receiving the gift, in turn, shows a person’s willingness to be honored. This is a way for the receiver to show their own generosity, that they are willing to accept what was offered to them.

The third component of gift giving is reciprocity, returning in kind what was first given. Essentially, the person who received the gift is now expected – implicitly or explicitly – to give a gift back to the original giver.

But then, of course, once the first person gets something back, they must return yet another gift to the person who received the original gift. In this way, gifting becomes an endless loop of giving and receiving, giving and receiving.

This last step – reciprocity – is what makes gifts unique. Unlike buying something at a store, in which the exchange ends when money is traded for goods, giving gifts builds and sustains relationships. This relationship between the gift giver and receiver is bound up with morality. Gifting is an expression of fairness because each present is generally of equal or greater value than what was last given. And gifting is an expression of respect because it shows a willingness to honor the other person.

In these ways, gifting tethers people together. It keeps people connected in an infinite cycle of mutual obligations.

Giving better gifts

Are modern-day consumers unknowingly embodying Mauss’ theory a little too well? After all, many people today suffer not from the lack of gifts, but from an overabundance.

Gallup reports that the average American holiday shopper estimates they’ll spend US$975 on presents in 2023 , the highest amount since this survey began in 1999.

And many gifts are simply thrown out. In the 2019 holiday season, it was estimated that more than $15 billion of gifts purchased by Americans were unwanted, with 4% going directly to the landfill . This year, holiday spending is expected to increase in the U.K. , Canada , Japan and elsewhere.

Modern-day gifting practices may be the source of both awe and anger. On the one hand, by giving presents you are engaging in an ancient behavior that makes us human by growing and sustaining our relationships. On the other hand, it seems as if some societies might be using the holiday season as an excuse to simply consume more and more.

Mauss’ ideas do not promote runaway consumerism. On the contrary, his explanations of gifts suggest that the more meaningful and personal the present, the greater the respect and honor being shown. A truly thoughtful gift is far less likely to end up in a dump. And vintage, upcycled, handmade goods – or a personalized experience such as a food tour or hot air balloon ride – might even be more valued than an expensive item mass-produced on the other side of the world, shipped across oceans and packaged in plastic.

Quality gifts can speak to your values and more meaningfully sustain your relationships.

This article was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article .

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Five Ways Giving Is Good for You

Holiday shopping can be terrifying, yes. But research suggests it’s worth it: New studies attest to the benefits of giving—not just for the recipients but for the givers’ health and happiness, and for the strength of entire communities.

Of course, you don’t have to shop to reap the benefits of giving. Research suggests the same benefits come from donating to charities or volunteering your time, like at a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter. Here are some of the ways that giving is good for you and your community.

1. Giving makes us feel happy. A 2008 study by Harvard Business School professor Michael Norton and colleagues found that giving money to someone else lifted participants’ happiness more that spending it on themselves (despite participants’ prediction that spending on themselves would make them happier). Happiness expert Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, saw similar results when she asked people to perform five acts of kindness each week for six weeks.

These good feelings are reflected in our biology. In a 2006 study, Jorge Moll and colleagues at the National Institutes of Health found that when people give to charities, it activates regions of the brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust, creating a “warm glow” effect. Scientists also believe that altruistic behavior releases endorphins in the brain, producing the positive feeling known as the “helper’s high.”

2. Giving is good for our health. A wide range of research has linked different forms of generosity to better health, even among the sick and elderly. In his book Why Good Things Happen to Good People , Stephen Post, a professor of preventative medicine at Stony Brook University, reports that giving to others has been shown to increase health benefits in people with chronic illness, including HIV and multiple sclerosis.

A 1999 study led by Doug Oman of the University of California, Berkeley, found that elderly people who volunteered for two or more organizations were 44 percent less likely to die over a five-year period than were non-volunteers, even after controlling for their age, exercise habits, general health, and negative health habits like smoking. Stephanie Brown of the University of Michigan saw similar results in a 2003 study on elderly couples. She and her colleagues found that those individuals who provided practical help to friends, relatives, or neighbors, or gave emotional support to their spouses, had a lower risk of dying over a five-year period than those who didn’t. Interestingly, receiving help wasn’t linked to a reduced death risk.

Researchers suggest that one reason giving may improve physical health and longevity is that it helps decrease stress, which is associated with a variety of health problems. In a 2006 study by Rachel Piferi of Johns Hopkins University and Kathleen Lawler of the University of Tennessee, people who provided social support to others had lower blood pressure than participants who didn’t, suggesting a direct physiological benefit to those who give of themselves.

3. Giving promotes cooperation and social connection. When you give, you’re more likely to get back: Several studies, including work by sociologists Brent Simpson and Robb Willer, have suggested that when you give to others, your generosity is likely to be rewarded by others down the line—sometimes by the person you gave to, sometimes by someone else.

These exchanges promote a sense of trust and cooperation that strengthens our ties to others—and research has shown that having positive social interactions is central to good mental and physical health. As researcher John Cacioppo writes in his book Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection , “The more extensive the reciprocal altruism born of social connection . . . the greater the advance toward health, wealth, and happiness.”

What’s more, when we give to others, we don’t only make them feel closer to us; we also feel closer to them. “Being kind and generous leads you to perceive others more positively and more charitably,” writes Lyubomirsky in her book The How of Happiness , and this “fosters a heightened sense of interdependence and cooperation in your social community.”

4. Giving evokes gratitude. Whether you’re on the giving or receiving end of a gift, that gift can elicit feelings of gratitude—it can be a way of expressing gratitude or instilling gratitude in the recipient. And research has found that gratitude is integral to happiness, health, and social bonds.

Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough, co-directors of the Research Project on Gratitude and Thankfulness, found that teaching college students to “count their blessings” and cultivate gratitude caused them to exercise more, be more optimistic, and feel better about their lives overall. A recent study led by Nathaniel Lambert at Florida State University found that expressing gratitude to a close friend or romantic partner strengthens our sense of connection to that person.

Barbara Fredrickson, a pioneering happiness researcher, suggests that cultivating gratitude in everyday life is one of the keys to increasing personal happiness. “When you express your gratitude in words or actions, you not only boost your own positivity but [other people’s] as well,” she writes in her book Positivity . “And in the process you reinforce their kindness and strengthen your bond to one another.”

5. Giving is contagious. When we give, we don’t only help the immediate recipient of our gift. We also spur a ripple effect of generosity through our community.

A study by James Fowler of the University of California, San Diego, and Nicholas Christakis of Harvard, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science , shows that when one person behaves generously, it inspires observers to behave generously later, toward different people. In fact, the researchers found that altruism could spread by three degrees—from person to person to person to person. “As a result,” they write, “each person in a network can influence dozens or even hundreds of people, some of whom [they do] not know and [have] not met.” ] Giving has also been linked to the release of oxytocin, a hormone (also released during sex and breast feeding) that induces feelings of warmth, euphoria, and connection to others. In laboratory studies, Paul Zak, the director of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies at Claremont Graduate University, has found that a dose of oxytocin will cause people to give more generously and to feel more empathy towards others, with “symptoms” lasting up to two hours. And those people on an “oxytocin high” can potentially jumpstart a “virtuous circle, where one person’s generous behavior triggers another’s,” says Zak.

So whether you buy gifts, volunteer your time, or donate money to charity this holiday season, your giving is much more than just a year-end chore. It may help you build stronger social connections and even jumpstart a cascade of generosity through your community. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself benefiting from a big dose of happiness in the process.

About the Authors

Jill Suttie

Jill Suttie, Psy.D. , is Greater Good ’s former book review editor and now serves as a staff writer and contributing editor for the magazine. She received her doctorate of psychology from the University of San Francisco in 1998 and was a psychologist in private practice before coming to Greater Good .

Jason Marsh

Jason Marsh is the executive director of the Greater Good Science Center and the editor in chief of Greater Good .

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The Helper’s High

This is a thoughtful entry. I’m used to hearing that giving makes you happy and that it is healthy, but there are many other benefits.

In fact, giving is so good for us that I can think of several other benefits right off the bat: Giving can actually alleviate minor mental illness. Certain forms of it, like formal volunteering, can help you create a winning resume or application for something. Giving can result in personal growth. Giving can help you be a good role model to the young people in your life. And most importantly, giving makes the world a better place for us all to live in. If everyone did their part, maybe we could all reduce the amount of crime, violence, prejudice, and suffering.

Amanda | 5:38 am, January 8, 2011 | Link

“Giving has also been linked to the release of oxytocin, a hormone (also released during sex and breast feeding) that induces feelings of warmth, euphoria, and connection to others. “

I love it! I am forwarding this article to my husby to answer his complains on not enough sex. He is not giving me enough!

Club Wear | 10:41 pm, January 10, 2011 | Link

Wow. I’m really glad I found this article and this site. I’ve been looking for some solid research on why we should give and encourage the act of giving and this site is excellent.

“A 1999 study led by Doug Oman of the University of California, Berkeley, found that elderly people who volunteered for two or more organizations were 44 percent less likely to die over a five-year period than were non-volunteers, even after controlling for their age, exercise habits, general health, and negative health habits like smoking.”

I would love to get this into the minds of general society. How often do we hear about driven people who work all their lives, but quickly die once they retire?

Perhaps engaging voluntary work would not only benefit others, but also prolong the life of the volunteer.

Darren | 12:09 am, August 7, 2011 | Link

I’m a millionaire and I often help my employees during financial hardship. I prefer to spend on others rather than myself.

Mike | 1:28 pm, January 16, 2013 | Link

Essay on Gift

Students are often asked to write an essay on Gift in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Gift

Understanding gifts.

Gifts are a way to show love, appreciation, and gratitude. They can be anything from toys, books, clothes, or even time spent together.

The Importance of Gifts

Gifts are not just about the material things. They symbolize the giver’s affection and thoughtfulness. They help in strengthening relationships and creating happiness.

The Joy of Giving

The act of giving gifts brings joy not only to the receiver but also to the giver. It’s a way of expressing love and care, making both parties feel valued and special.

250 Words Essay on Gift

The essence of gifting.

Gifts are more than just material objects. They are embodiments of sentiments, gestures that communicate love, respect, and appreciation. They serve as a bridge, connecting individuals and strengthening bonds. In a broader sense, gifts can be seen as a social glue, a tool that facilitates interaction and fosters relationships.

Gifts: A Psychological Perspective

The symbolism of gifts.

Gifts carry symbolic meanings, often reflecting the giver’s perceptions about the receiver. A thoughtfully chosen gift can speak volumes about the depth of a relationship, and the effort invested in choosing the right gift can be a testament to the level of care and consideration between individuals.

Gifts and Cultural Significance

Gifts also play a significant role in various cultural practices and traditions. They are used to mark milestones, celebrate achievements, and honor individuals. The type, value, and manner of giving gifts can vary greatly across different cultures, reflecting diverse societal norms and values.

In conclusion, gifts are more than just material objects exchanged between people. They are a complex interplay of emotions, symbolism, and cultural significance, playing a crucial role in human relationships and societal structures. The act of gifting, thus, is a profound expression of human connection and shared experiences.

500 Words Essay on Gift

Introduction.

Gifts, in their many forms, have been an integral part of human societies since time immemorial. They serve as tangible representations of human emotions, acting as a bridge between the physical and emotional realms. They are often used to express love, gratitude, friendship, and even apology. This essay explores the concept of gifts from various perspectives, including their social, psychological, and economic implications.

The Social Significance of Gifts

Gifts play a crucial role in the social fabric of societies. They are used as a medium to express emotions and sentiments that are sometimes hard to put into words. In many cultures, gifts are used to celebrate milestones, such as birthdays and weddings, to honor achievements, or to express condolences during times of loss. They help maintain social relationships and foster a sense of community. Gifts also serve as a mechanism for reciprocity, helping to establish and maintain social norms and expectations.

The Psychological Impact of Gifts

Economic implications of gift-giving.

Gift-giving also has significant economic implications. It stimulates economic activity by creating demand for goods and services. The gift industry, encompassing various sectors like retail, packaging, and logistics, contributes significantly to the global economy. However, it also brings to light the concept of ‘deadweight loss’, an economic phenomenon where the value of the gift to the recipient is less than its cost to the giver. This highlights the importance of thoughtful gift selection to maximize value for both the giver and the receiver.

Gifts in the Digital Age

The advent of the digital age has transformed the landscape of gift-giving. E-gifting, gift cards, and online wish-lists have added a new dimension to the tradition of gift exchange. These digital innovations offer convenience and personalization, allowing individuals to give and receive gifts that truly align with their preferences. Yet, they also raise questions about the impersonality of digital gifts and the potential loss of the emotional connection inherent in traditional gift-giving.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

The Real Point of Gift-Giving

Peter Bregman

A few weeks ago was my birthday. I turned 43. 43 doesn’t mark a new decade. It’s not one of those birthdays people usually celebrate in a grand way, and mine was no exception. No one threw me a lavish surprise party. I had a few small dinners with close friends and family. I opened […]

A few weeks ago was my birthday. I turned 43.

Peter Bregman is the CEO of Bregman Partners , an executive coaching company that helps successful people become exceptional leaders and stellar human beings. Best-selling author of 18 Minutes , and Leading with Emotional Courage , his most recent book is You Can Change Other People . To identify your leadership gap, take Peter’s free assessment .

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Understanding the brain science behind giving and receiving gifts

The acts of giving and receiving gifts activate core areas of the brain associated with reward and pleasure, says associate professor Jessica Andrews-Hanna.

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is upon us and part of the holiday cheer revolves around exchanging gifts.

The acts of giving and receiving gifts encompass many emotions. Spending money on others brings happiness to the gift-giver , studies say. In fact, psychologists have confirmed that the warm glow of kindness, the feel-good rush after being kind to others, is real . A 2019 study says that people who give benefit regardless of whether they gain something from gifting others.

Jessica Andrews-Hanna.

In this Q&A, Jessica Andrews-Hanna , an associate professor in the Department of Psychology , in the College of Science , discusses in detail the psychology and neuroscience behind giving and receiving gifts.

Q: What happens to our brain when we gift others?

A: There is a decent amount of research showing that the act of giving actually makes us feel better. Evidence from brain imaging also suggests that both giving gifts and receiving gifts activate core areas of our brain associated with reward and pleasure. These brain regions also stimulate the neurotransmitter dopamine. All in all, psychology and neuroscience suggest that giving gifts to other people can be a very rewarding phenomenon that can bring happiness to ourselves and others. In order to maximize the benefits of gift giving, however, it will be important to take time to savor the act and not let the holiday season turn into a source of stress, as can sometimes happen when things get busy.

There is also a related area of research involving compassion that I think nicely intersects with giving gifts.

Q: How exactly is being compassionate related to giving gifts?

A: When we feel compassionate toward another person, we are often motivated to do something nice for that person, such as to help them relieve their suffering. There is a growing body of research suggesting that feeling close to someone, or caring deeply for them, involves considering this person as part of ourselves, and enhances our willingness to engage in an act of kindness for that person. And vice versa, when we do something nice for another person, we feel closer to that person as a result.

What this all means is that when we are kind to others, we are, in a way, being kind to ourselves. There is a psychological term called "vicarious reward" that suggests that when we witness something positive happening to another person, we vicariously feel in that person's pleasure, too. We can capitalize on this phenomenon by making ourselves happy by doing good deeds for others, including by giving gifts.

We all know people who exemplify what it means to live a life of compassion. Some people have spent thousands of hours training in a kind of meditation called "compassion meditation" or "loving kindness meditation," which involves sending love, kindness and warm thoughts to others. When these compassion experts send thoughts of love to other people, their brain lights up with dopamine and they feel happy. The good news is that we can all train ourselves to become more compassionate. In fact, the University of Arizona has a Center for Compassion Studies that offers regular workshops on this topic.

Q: What happens when we see someone open our gift?

A: This is an understudied area in psychology and neuroscience. We give gifts to other people because we expect that our gifts will bring others happiness. In this sense, we would presumably derive the most personal pleasure if we knew that our gifts were well received. Giving the perfect gift involves a process called perspective-taking, where we might mentally put ourselves in another person's shoes and imagine what would bring us happiness if we were that person. Perspective-taking is a kind of empathy often referred to as "cognitive empathy," and is considered a key ingredient of compassion. Ultimately, however, regardless of whether or not people receive the perfect gift, many people just like to know that they are on your mind. In many cases, it's the thought that counts.

Q: We often come across the term "warm glow of giving." Can you elaborate on that?

A: The "warm glow of giving" is a theory that suggests that when we give something to others, it leaves a warm fuzzy feeling in ourselves that persists over time and creates a glow of kindness about us. We can create this warm glow not just by giving physical gifts, but by engaging in other acts of kindness like complimenting others and telling others how much they mean to us. This process can also extend beyond the giver and recipient; when we do something nice for another person, the other person may be more apt to pay it forward. I think today's society would especially benefit from experiencing more of a warm glow this holiday season. This warm glow could help combat the rise in interpersonal conflict and mental health challenges. A big dose of kindness would help bring people closer together and spread more happiness around.

Resources for the Media

Niranjana Rajalakshmi Science Writer, University Communications [email protected] 917-415-3497

Jessica Andrews-Hanna Department of Psychology [email protected]

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Understanding the True Purpose Of Giving: The Joy in Generosity

Aurora Simon

As human beings, we are wired to seek joy and fulfillment in our lives. While there are many ways to achieve this, giving to others has been found to be one of the most impactful and rewarding experiences. The Purpose Of Giving goes beyond materialistic gain and instant gratification, but instead, it brings a sense of purpose and meaning to our lives.

Table of Contents

When we give, we experience a sense of joy that cannot be found through any other means. The act of giving triggers a release of endorphins in our brains, making us feel happier and more fulfilled. It allows us to connect with others deeper and creates a sense of unity and compassion within our communities.

Giving has countless benefits, from improving our mental and physical well-being to strengthening our relationships with others. In the upcoming sections, we will explore the various reasons for giving, the impact of giving on our communities and the world, and how we can cultivate a culture of giving in our society.

Why Giving Matters

Giving is not just an act of kindness but a powerful tool for personal growth and social change. At its core, giving is about connecting with others and positively impacting the world. Here, we will explore the significance of giving and the many benefits it can bring to our lives.

What is the Purpose of Giving?

The purpose of giving is to create a sense of community, to help those in need, and to foster a spirit of generosity and empathy. When we give, we contribute to the betterment of society, reinforcing our shared values and beliefs. At the same time, giving can help us connect with others, build relationships, and experience the joy and fulfillment of helping others.

Why is Giving Important?

Giving is important because it allows us to impact the world, no matter how small positively. Whether we give our time, money, or resources, our acts of generosity can create a ripple effect, inspiring others to do the same. Moreover, giving can help us develop a sense of purpose and meaning in our lives, contributing to our overall well-being and happiness.

What are the Benefits of Giving?

Many benefits arise from giving, both for the giver and the recipient. For the giver, giving can enhance our sense of self-worth, promote feelings of compassion and empathy, and foster personal growth. Giving can also improve our mental and physical health, reducing stress and promoting a sense of well-being. For the recipient, giving can provide much-needed relief, support, and assistance, helping them overcome adversity and achieve their goals.

Ultimately, giving is a transformative act that can bring joy, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose to our lives. Whether we give to others, to charity, or to our communities, we can positively impact the world and inspire others to do the same. So let us embrace the spirit of generosity and compassion and make giving a part of our daily lives.

The Benefits of Giving

Giving has numerous benefits that extend beyond assisting those in need. Research has shown that those who regularly give experience positive effects such as increased happiness and improved well-being. These benefits are not only experienced by the giver, but they also profoundly impact the recipient and the community as a whole.

The benefits of giving include:

Personal Growth	Giving can help individuals develop greater empathy, compassion, and understanding of others, leading to personal growth and self-awareness. Giving also allows one to step outside of one’s comfort zone and take on new challenges, further fostering personal growth.
Improved Well-being	Studies have shown that individuals who give regularly experience decreased stress levels and improved physical health. The act of giving produces a positive impact on one’s well-being, reducing the risk of depression and increasing overall happiness.
Enhanced Relationships	Giving can also strengthen existing relationships and foster new connections within the community. The act of giving promotes a sense of unity and purpose, bringing individuals together around a common cause.

Additionally, giving back to the community can positively impact society. Charitable acts not only benefit the individual, but they also contribute to the greater good of the community. Donating to a charity, volunteering, or simply helping a neighbor can ignite a ripple effect of kindness and inspire others to give.

giving back to the community dance event

“No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank

The Joy of Giving

Giving is often accompanied by a sense of joy and fulfillment. Seeing the positive impact that one’s actions have on others can be an advantageous experience. Scientific studies have also shown that the joy experienced from giving is comparable to the feeling of happiness one experiences after receiving a gift.

When we give, we also develop a greater gratitude for what we have and a deeper appreciation for the simple things in life. Giving provides a sense of purpose and meaning, allowing individuals to feel as though they are making a positive difference in the world around them. This feeling of significance and fulfillment makes giving such a powerful and rewarding experience.

Giving Back to the Community

One of the most significant ways to give is by giving back to our communities. Whether volunteering our time, donating resources, or supporting local businesses, giving back can help create a positive impact on society as a whole. Investing in our communities can help create a better tomorrow for ourselves and those around us.

Communities comprise individuals, families, businesses, and organizations working together to achieve common goals. When we give back, we become an integral part of this ecosystem, providing support, resources, and guidance where needed most. Our contributions can help strengthen the fabric of the community, fostering a sense of pride and belonging among its members.

There are many ways to give back to our communities, from volunteering at local events to supporting local businesses to donating to charitable causes. The key is to find a reason or organization that resonates with your values and passions, and then commit to supporting it however you can.

When we give back to our communities, we help those around us and experience a sense of fulfillment and purpose. Giving back allows us to connect with others, build new relationships, and positively impact the world. It reminds us that we are all connected and that our actions, no matter how small, can make a difference in the lives of others.

Finding Joy in Giving to Charity

One of the most rewarding forms of giving is donating to charitable causes. It allows us to positively impact the world and create meaningful change in the lives of others. The joy of giving to charity is unparalleled, as we see firsthand the difference that our contributions can make.

Charitable giving can take many forms, including monetary donations, volunteering our time and skills, or donating goods and services. Whatever form it takes, giving to charity allows us to make a tangible difference in the world and bring joy and hope to those in need.

Not only does giving to charity benefit those on the receiving end, but it also brings joy and fulfillment to the giver. Research shows that giving to charity releases endorphins in our brains, leading to increased happiness and well-being.

Giving to charity can also help us feel more connected to the world around us. Through supporting causes that align with our values and beliefs, we can feel a sense of purpose and belonging, knowing that we are making a difference in the lives of others.

Finally, giving to charity can also be a powerful way to inspire others to join in the spirit of generosity. By sharing our giving stories and encouraging friends and family to get involved, we can create a ripple effect of positive change that reaches far beyond our contributions.

“When I donated to my local animal shelter, I never expected how much joy it would bring me. Seeing the happy faces of the pets and the shelter workers made me feel like I was making a real difference in the world. Plus, I was able to connect with other like-minded individuals who were passionate about animal welfare. It was an experience that brought me immense joy and gratitude.”

The Impact of Giving on Others

When we give to others, we not only benefit ourselves, but we also make a positive impact on the lives of those around us. Our actions of generosity can inspire kindness and positivity, fostering a culture of giving that extends far beyond our sphere.

Whether it’s a small act of kindness or a significant contribution to a charitable cause, our giving has the power to transform lives. By sharing our resources and time with others, we can help provide crucial support to those in need, creating a ripple effect of change that reaches far beyond our immediate community.

Moreover, the act of giving can inspire others to follow suit, creating a domino effect of kindness and generosity. When we selflessly give to others, we encourage those around us to do the same, amplifying the collective impact of our actions.

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” – Amelia Earhart

By acting as a role model and inspiring others to give, we can help nurture a culture of giving that encourages compassion, empathy, and a sense of community. Through acts of kindness and generosity, we can come together and create a better world for all.

Cultivating Generosity for Inner Growth

When we give from our hearts, we receive much more than we give. Giving is not only about providing material or financial support to others, but it is also about cultivating inner growth, gratitude, and a sense of purpose in our own lives.

Generosity is a way of life that involves developing a giving mindset and a willingness to serve others. It requires us to shift our focus from our own needs to the needs of others, creating a ripple effect of positivity in our lives and the lives of those around us.

As we cultivate generosity, we learn to appreciate the simple things we may have taken for granted. Giving helps us develop deeper empathy and compassion towards others, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and enriching life.

Moreover, generosity not only benefits us as individuals but has the power to transform entire communities. When we lead by example, our giving inspires others to follow suit, creating a culture of generosity and kindness that can bring about significant positive change.

In a world where materialistic desires often take center stage, cultivating generosity provides a counterbalance that promotes personal and collective growth, love, and happiness.

“The practice of generosity is as much about receiving as it is about giving. When we give from a place of love and compassion, we receive joy, inner peace, and a deeper sense of connection to others and the world around us.”

Giving as an Expression of Love

One of the most profound reasons for giving is the opportunity it provides to express our love to those around us. Whether it’s our family, friends, or even strangers, giving allows us to show compassion, kindness, and generosity, all rooted in love.

When we give to others, we are saying, “I care about you, and I want to make your life better.” This act of selflessness not only helps the recipient but also strengthens our own connections and relationships. By giving, we create a sense of belonging and unity that resonates throughout our communities.

At the heart of giving as an expression of love is the idea that we are all connected, and our actions have the power to inspire and uplift others. As we give to those around us, we create a ripple effect of positivity that spreads far beyond our own circles.

So, whether it’s a small act of kindness or a significant gesture, giving as an expression of love can bring joy and fulfillment to both the giver and the recipient.

“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.” -Morrie Schwartz

Inspiring Others Through Giving

One of the most beautiful outcomes of giving is its ability to inspire others. When we act to help others or contribute to a cause we care about, we set an example for those around us. Our acts of generosity can help create a ripple effect that inspires others to join us in giving back.

Whether donating to a charity, volunteering at a local organization, or simply offering a helping hand to a neighbor in need, our actions can inspire those around us. Seeing the impact that giving can have on others can motivate people to take action and make a difference in their own way.

Through our acts of giving, we can also instill a sense of compassion and empathy in those around us. When we show kindness and generosity, we promote a culture of empathy and inspire others to do the same.

As we inspire others through giving, we also benefit from the joy and fulfillment that comes from helping those in need. It’s a win-win situation that benefits the recipient and brings joy and satisfaction to the giver.

So let’s continue to inspire others through our acts of giving, creating a world filled with compassion, empathy, and generosity.

Overcoming Barriers to Giving

Giving is often associated with financial donations, but it can also include giving our time, skills, and resources to make a positive impact. However, many people may feel hesitant to give due to various reasons. Here are some common barriers to giving and suggestions for how to overcome them:

Barrier	Solution
	You don’t need to have a lot of money to make a difference. Consider giving your time or skills to a local organization or charity. If you want to give financially, start small with an amount that feels comfortable for you. Even a small donation can make a significant impact.
	Do some research and find causes that align with your values. Look for organizations with transparent financial practices and a clear mission. You can also ask for recommendations from friends and family or check out charity evaluators like to help you make a confident decision.
	Giving doesn’t have to be time-consuming. Look for volunteer opportunities that fit your schedule or consider giving in other ways, such as donating goods or services. You can also make giving a part of your regular routine, like setting up automatic donations to a charity of your choice.
	It’s important to do your research and choose reputable organizations, but remember that no donation is wasted. Your giving can still make a significant impact, even if it’s not immediately visible. Take the time to learn about the causes you care about and find organizations that are making a difference.

By recognizing and overcoming these barriers, we can embrace the joy of giving and make a positive impact on our communities and beyond.

Nurturing a Culture of Giving

Imagine a world where giving is a way of life, where everyone feels compelled to help those in need, and where kindness and compassion are the norm. This is the culture of giving that we should strive to nurture, both as individuals and as a society.

But how do we create a culture of giving? It starts with each one of us. We can inspire by example, showing others the joy and fulfillment that comes with giving. Whether it’s volunteering at a local charity, donating to a cause we believe in, or simply offering a helping hand to those in need, our acts of giving can inspire others to follow suit.

Another way to nurture a culture of giving is to make it a part of our everyday lives. We can look for opportunities to give back to our communities, whether it’s through small acts of kindness or larger initiatives. We can encourage our friends and family to do the same, creating a ripple effect of positivity that can spread far and wide.

It’s important to recognize that giving doesn’t always have to involve money or material possessions. We can give our time, our skills, and our support to those who need it most. By doing so, we can create meaningful connections with others and forge a sense of purpose in our own lives.

Ultimately, nurturing a culture of giving requires a shift in mindset. We need to recognize the inherent value of generosity and compassion, and we need to prioritize these values in our own lives. We can start by reflecting on the impact that giving has had on our own lives, and then consider how we can pay it forward to others.

Promoting a Culture of Giving in the community

By nurturing a culture of giving, we can create a better world for ourselves and future generations. We can inspire positivity, promote kindness, and make a profound impact on the world around us. So let us all embrace the joy of giving and work towards a brighter future for all.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Purpose Of Giving

Q: Why is giving important?

A: Giving allows us to make a positive impact on the lives of others and our communities. It also benefits us by promoting personal growth, a sense of purpose, and improved well-being.

Q: What are some benefits of giving?

A: Giving promotes personal growth, gratitude, and a sense of purpose. It also strengthens relationships and enhances overall well-being.

Q: How can I overcome barriers to giving?

A: Start small, set giving goals, and find causes that resonate with your values. Additionally, surround yourself with like-minded individuals who also prioritize giving.

Q: How can I find a charity to give to?

A: Research organizations that align with your values and have a proven track record of making a positive impact. Websites such as Charity Navigator or GuideStar can provide helpful information and resources.

Q: What is the impact of giving on others?

A: Giving can have a profound impact on the lives of others, fostering compassion, and inspiring positivity. It can also create a ripple effect of positive change and inspire others to join in the spirit of generosity.

Q: How can I cultivate a culture of giving?

A: Encourage and model giving behaviors, volunteer in your community, and support organizations that promote giving and generosity.

Q: Can giving be an expression of love?

A: Yes, giving allows us to express love and strengthen our connections with loved ones and the broader community.

Q: How can giving cultivate inner growth ?

A: Giving promotes gratitude, a sense of purpose, and personal growth, leading to a greater understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Q: How does giving back to the community create a positive impact?

A: Giving back to our communities promotes a sense of belonging and fosters positive relationships. It also helps create a positive impact on society by addressing social and economic challenges.

About the author

With an enduring passion for human potential, I have dedicated my life to learning, growing, and most importantly, empowering others to discover their own unique paths to self-improvement. As a personal development blogger, I distill the wisdom gathered from various life experiences, books, seminars, and thought leaders to provide you with actionable insights and tools for your own growth. I believe that each one of us is capable of extraordinary things, and my mission is to help you unlock that potential. Join me on this journey of self-discovery, and together let’s cultivate a life filled with purpose, fulfillment, and joy. You can contact us here.

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Giving Really Is Better than Receiving

Does giving to others (compared to oneself) promote happiness.

Posted December 25, 2010 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

During the holiday season, one custom that is shared across many religious and cultural traditions ranging from Christmas to Hanukkah to Kwanzaa is the act of giving to others.

For instance, we often hear the phrase "it is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35) quoted a lot during this time of year. Although holiday gift-giving has often become associated with shopping aggravations and as a key indicator of the economy's general state of health, there is considerable evidence in support of this frequently-cited biblical passage.

Science supports the benefits of giving.

For example, research by social psychologist Liz Dunn and her colleagues appearing in the journal Science shows that people's sense of happiness is greater when they spend relatively more on others than on themselves.

In one survey of over 600 U.S. citizens, Dunn and colleagues found that spending money on others predicted greater happiness whereas spending money on oneself did not, and this pattern was found across all income levels. In other words, even those with little money reported greater happiness when their proportion of spending on others, relative to the self, was greater.

In a more controlled experiment, Dunn and colleagues gave students at the University of British Columbia an envelope containing money and told them that they either (1) had to spend the money on themselves before 5 p.m. that day or (2) had to spend the money on someone else before 5 p.m. Those who gifted for others were happier than those who gifted for themselves.

In some cases, there were 5 dollars in the envelope and in other cases there were 20 dollars. The amount didn't matter — the results were the same. Spending on others made people happier than spending on themselves. Ironically, when asked to predict which outcome would make one happier (i.e., spending on oneself or spending on others), another group of students at the same university thought spending on themselves would make them happier than spending on others.

In short, people's selfish assumptions were proven wrong when they actually had the opportunity to give to others.

Transcendental leaders support the benefits of giving.

In addition to solid scientific evidence supporting the benefits of giving to others, it's not surprising to see that many of the most prominent transcendental leaders emphasize the importance giving in their teachings.

For example, emphasizing the Buddhist principle of dependent origination, the Dalai Lama notes that one's own happiness is dependent on the happiness of others. In his book Ethics for the New Millennium , the Dalai Lama observes that happiness does not come from material things but rather from a deep, genuine concern for others' happiness. In fact, the Dalai Lama contends that focusing on one's own needs instead of others' results in negative emotions that prevent true and lasting happiness for the self.

Similarly, one of my favorite quotes from Mahatma Gandhi regarding self-understanding is, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

And lastly, and to bring things full circle with Christian gospel this holiday season, the value of giving to others was one of the themes reiterated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In arguably his finest sermon, The Drum Major Instinct , King notes that personal greatness and service to others are intertwined. In a world filled with people's selfish endeavors and nations' destructive engagement in war and violence, King emphasized that a desire to be the best (the drum major) can be transformed from a selfish impulse to an instrument for justice if people adopt service to others as their goal. In King's poignant words, "Everybody can be great, because everyone can serve."

It is fitting that when King delivered this sermon to his congregation at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church exactly two months before he was assassinated, he emphasized that he hoped he would simply be remembered as a man who tried to help others, serve others, and give to others. For someone who was an accomplished international leader , it is poignant that in the end, King recognized the most powerful and enduring statement about one's life is not personal accolades such as winning Nobel Prizes but rather living a life of service to others.

During this holiday season, let's not lose sight of the value of giving to others. It does not matter whether you give a lot or a little, give gifts or intangible things. What matters most for meaningful happiness is appreciating the importance of those around you — family, friends, and community — and do so each and every day of the year, not simply on Christmas morning.

Allen R. McConnell , Ph.D. , is the James and Beth Lewis Professor of Psychology at Miami University.

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Originally published on Nov. 1, 2018

How to Give a Great Gift

By Bonnie Wertheim

Photography by Will Anderson; Styled by Livia Cetti

Sometimes we give gifts because we know the recipients will love and appreciate them. They dropped the right hints, we considered their tastes and interests and picked just the right object to wrap in that beautiful paper. Sometimes we give gifts out of obligation, choosing items from a registry that are predestined to be used, if not loved, or sending flowers because, well, flowers make people happy. And other times we scour museum gift shops seeking souvenirs that our loved ones are unlikely to treasure for more than a fleeting moment. But that fleeting moment is often worth the $15 and the luggage space. Gift-giving is a love language and one that anyone can learn to speak. This guide will help you develop your fluency.

This could be the most important question in your gift-giving journey.

A collection of brightly colored and shiny gift bows.

Why Do We Do This? (Beyond the Obvious)

Gifting can be a way of showing you care about someone, or reflecting the care someone has shown you. There’s never a particularly inappropriate time to do it. Oftentimes, though, we try to force our expressions of love to fit occasion-specific molds rather than the recipients themselves. (Think about how many recent graduates have received a copy of Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!,” which is a great book, but still.)

Of course, many events have established practices of gift-giving, including birthdays and weddings, and some religious or cultural holidays. While giving gifts around these dates can feel more rote, it is still important to try to convey your affection for the recipient.

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Ielts writing task 2 sample 453 - giving presents as an important way to show care to family and friends, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, some people view giving presents as an important way to show care to family and friends, others think there are more important things that can be done to show care and appreciation..

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Some people view giving presents as an important way to show care to family and friends. Others think there are more important things that can be done to show care and appreciation. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

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The Power of Giving and Receiving: Which One Is Better?

Giving vs. receiving.

Are you one of those people who is naturally a giver, a doer, or a caretaker?
How do you react to receiving compliments? Is it with ease and gratitude, or do you get the urge to deflect and minimize praise?
What has been your history with receiving love? Does it come with struggle and hardship?

The Importance of Giving

Give from a place of love.
Give without expecting anything in return.

The Importance of Receiving

An expanded view of giving and receiving, so which one is better.

Compliment a stranger.
Say a silent prayer for someone.
Send a message of appreciation.
Give a hug.
Say “thank you.”
Give an anonymous gift.

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“Hints” for a Gift Theory: The Ideology of Disinterested Giving and Its Discontents

First Online: 28 April 2022

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Alexandra Urakova 3

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This chapter offers insight into the ideology of a disinterested, pure, and free gift by examining three texts with theoretical implications: (1) Emerson’s essay “Gifts” (1844), the first serious attempt to theorize the category of the gift in modern Western history, (2) Caroline M. Kirkland’s “About Presents” (1852), and (3) Mark Twain’s [“Reflections on a Letter and a Book”] (1903). These three theoretical nodes allow me to trace the arc of this ideology over the course of the nineteenth century, from Emerson’s problematization of sentimental rhetoric and conceptualization of the gift through Kirkland’s development of the sentimental “philosophy of giving” (“presents”), arriving ultimately at Twain’s half-mocking, half-serious (re)vision of what he called the “absolutely free gift.”

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By bringing Emerson and Kirkland together in one chapter, I follow in the steps of Eric Leigh Schmidt (Schmidt 1997 ) yet my analysis goes in a different direction. Schmidt considers Emerson’s “Gifts” and Kirkland’s “About Presents” as the two polar variations of what he calls the Romantic understanding of the gift. (The Romantic gift in Schmidt’s interpretation encompasses both “the poison in the gift” and “the promise of the gift,” e.g., the ambivalence associated with gift-giving and its idealization). He argues that, on the one hand, there is Emerson who is skeptical about gift-giving in both his essay and private correspondence and, on the other, Kirkland who, together with female contemporaries such as Sarah Josepha Hale, idealizes the free spirit of the gift and sees gift-exchange rituals in a positive light. In what follows, I intend to read these texts in terms of continuity rather than contrast while accounting for their fundamental ideological differences.

Since 1988, the text has received significantly more attention in American nineteenth-century studies ; see Schmidt ( 1997 ); Kete ( 2000 ); Litwicki ( 2015 ). However, its place within Emerson studies continues to be marginal, especially when compared with canonical works such as “Nature” or “Self-Reliance.”

Both Amy Vanderbilt and Miss Manners (Judith Martin) were twentieth-century American authors writing on etiquette.

There is an apparent congruence between the Kantian and Emersonian visions if we consider the following statement from the Critique of Judgment : “Flowers, free designs, lines aimlessly intertwined and called foliage: these have no significance, depend on no determinate concept, and yet we like them” (qtd in Shapiro 1999 : 103).

Unless handmade gifts pursue self-interest or suggest a bargain. Eliza Leslie, for example, condemns young ladies knitting purses or working slippers for wealthy old gentlemen knowing that the “dear old man” would “reward them by a handsome present of some bijou of real value” (Leslie 1853 : 181).

While “in the sentimental novel, what ‘floweth’ most of all are tears” (Elmer: 109), a bleeding heart was still its commonest cliché. In Richardson’s ( 1986 ) Clarissa , a “bleeding heart” is mentioned ten times (390, 433, 958, 979, 994; 1101; 1220; 1337; 1339; 1372), in Pamela ( 2011 ), four (27, 117, 171, 229); in Brown’s ( 1996 ) The Power of Sympathy , the first sentimental novel written in the United States, twice (41, 66).

This idea would later be echoed in Walden , where Thoreau compares a benefactor with “that dry and parching wind of the African deserts called the simoom, which fills the mouth and nose and ears and eyes with dust till you are suffocated.” He adds that he would run from such a person “for fear that I should get some of his good done to me—some of its virus mingled with my blood” (61). In Thoreau’s ( 2008 ) interpretation of Emersonian ideas, benevolence is not only violent but also contagious.

She prefers it to the term “gift” but, like Emerson, uses both terms interchangeably.

Here I use the classification suggested in the introduction to a forthcoming volume on the dangers of gifts (Sowerby and Urakova 2022, forthcoming).

Nonetheless, charitable giving and exchange often occurred together and shared common features: “both acts of giving acted as cathartic exercises in selflessness” (133).

Hau (Maori term) is a force that binds the giver and the receiver.

Schmidt draws more parallels between Kirkland and Mauss, for example, they both counterpoise the imperfect present and the idyllic pre-capitalist past where gifts were valued much more (Schmidt 1997 : 79).

Although his writing on “money and greed” (“central themes of Twain’s critique of the Gilded Age”) was a “lifelong project that commenced in his early journalism years” (Bush 2002 : 60).

Twain’s interest in selfless, disinterested giving in his late period is a counterpoint to his lifelong interest in business and speculation, which extended to the literary sphere as well. “More so even than most writers, Twain regarded his books as commodities to be marketed, and even his famous pseudonym registered as a trademark” (Sattelmeyer 2001 : 89). At the same time, and despite his literary success, his attitude to money was “vexed” and “contradictory” (Wonham 2014 : 1, 2).

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Urakova, A. (2022). “Hints” for a Gift Theory: The Ideology of Disinterested Giving and Its Discontents. In: Dangerous Giving in Nineteenth-Century American Literature. American Literature Readings in the 21st Century. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93270-1_2

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Short Paragraph on Joy of Giving (341 Words)

Here is your short paragraph on Joy of Giving !

Have you ever noticed how you feel when you give away things? The Joy of giving just cannot be put into any words but only felt. It is a greater feeling than while receiving any kind of gifts.

Studies have shown that some parts of your brains get activated when you give and receive gifts.

Giving could be in any format. For some it could be money while for others it could be time. Some people find great pleasures in giving care and working for others or for the society. The happiness that one finds in giving out may differ from person to person and their interests. It has also been observed that children also experience a sense of joy when they give their things to whom they like.

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The joy of giving could be seen on the faces of the people who share and give. The smile, the glow the happiness all is very much evident and it is such a pleasure to see those faces. Studies have shown that most people when they are down or blue, and when they get involved in giving out something, it brightens up their mood and makes them happy.

Basically, giving means ensuring that you are making someone happy by providing them what they wanted and thereby making them feel happy and cared.

Giving away something that was of great benefit or of requirement to the receiver definitely brings in a feel of happiness and fulfillment. No matter whatever situation you may be in, when you pass out things that are of great help and happiness to others, you too feel the same.

The joy of sharing and giving out things to others, who genuinely require it, could only be experienced and could not be put down in any kind of wonderful words. Let us all try to experience that wonderful feel of sharing and caring and giving out things, so that the future generation to come would also find happiness and peace.

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Giving and receiving gifts is a common practice in many cultures around the world. People remember speacial gifts or presents that they receive. Why does this happen and what factors are kept in mind while giving gifts.

IELTS essay Giving and receiving gifts is a common practice in many cultures around the world. People remember speacial gifts or presents that they receive. Why does this happen and what factors are kept in mind while giving gifts.

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Gift Giving

Updated 20 October 2021

Subject Events , Holidays

Downloads 63

Category Culture , Life , Sociology

Topic Gift , Multiculturalism , Society , Valentines Day

Gift Giving and its Cultural Significance

Gift giving is the practice of exchanging goods, especially during a ceremony that may be gratuitous or intended to reinforce social and economic relations. Different cultures within communities have developed transaction structures, but every community values the element of free gifting that is unaccompanied by some requirement or expectation.

Gifting in Traditional Cultures

In many traditional cultures, such as Indians, gifting entailed responsibility and the formation of socioeconomic bonds (Cronk). This paper would detail a cross-cultural comparison of gift sharing and argue whether a free gift exists. Cronk explains that giving is an aspect of reciprocal exchange. He does not acknowledge free gifting rather he considers giving as a form of strengthening existing relationships or a way of creating new associations.

The Absence of Free Gifts

Cronk is of the opinion that in every society, there are strings attached to the act of giving. For instance, Captain Louis received a gift of horses so as to strengthen ties with the chief. Moreover, the white settlers from England received the Indian gifts, but they understood that a return was expected. There is no free gift according to Cronk. For example, an Englishman arrived in America and was offered a pipe as a gift that he used to set a mantelpiece. Later he learned that the Indians wanted their pipe back that got him shocked for the short-lived generosity. The Englishman did not understand that the welcoming gesture was meant to create a relationship that should be maintained through multiple mutual exchanges. Therefore, his failure to reciprocate was a sign of being rude and unfriendly (Cronk). It is evident that giving should be reciprocated.

Giving in the Kalahari Desert

Moreover, Richard Lee while working in the Kalahari Desert with the Kung Bushman gives an elaborate understanding of giving. While in the desert he was studying the gathering and hunting subsistence economy of the Kung. He had to cooperate and share his food with the Kung so as to effectively carry out his mission. The Bushman called Lee stingy and hard-hearted when he failed to give his portion of canned food. To cover up for this and create a good relationship with the Kung Bushmen he purchased Christmas oxen for the Bushmen community to slaughter it as their usual annual gesture. However, the Kung did not appreciate the gift at first as they disapproved Lee for claims that he was proud and arrogant. The concept of giving exhibited here is that for cooperation and healthy relationships to be enhanced, one has offer gifts to the other party with humility (Borshay 32). Furthermore, the movie Ongka’s Big Moka focuses on explaining the concept of ceremonial giving as a form of creating prestige on the giver. This was a kind of free gifting however that was intended to increase the standards of Ongka (Nairn).

The Role of Gifts in Different Occasions

Gifts can be given on several occasions including Christmas holidays, New Year's celebrations, baby showers, paying of bride price among other occasions. The kind of gifting determines the type of gift given. For example, many cultures around the world practice dowry payment when marriage is done. The gifting is a form of appreciation to the girl's family. Therefore, it is given according to Lee Cronk opinion that reciprocation must accompany gifting. The groom's family is given a daughter in marriage, and they have to reciprocate the act by paying dowry so as to establish social relationships. Other gifts given during Christmas and Valentines are a form of reciprocating love from one another. Though the love may not be a material or tangible thing, the act of gifts of paying for holiday trips to the partner is made to enhance social ties. Some gifts can be given to boost economic integration and ties. For instance, when the American president visits China, he can be offered gifts so as to create relationships that will promote the trade between the two states.

Free Gifts in Business Promotion

The concept of a free gift can only exist in a business setup where the owner wants to carry out promotions. They can offer some commodities for free to the customers so as to encourage or attract them to buy things in their shops. However, the act is solely not purely free because in some situations, a client has to purchase a considerable amount of goods so as to receive the free offer. On the other hand, the business aim is to create economic advantage and a relationship with the buyer. Therefore, one can establish that there is nothing like a free gift in society. This is because the giver always has their motives and intentions of giving the gift. For example, a free gift of a wall clock from the electronics shop is meant to persuade the buyer to keep on buying in the same shop or attract other people to become customers.

The Significance of Gift Giving

Gift giving is a commonly practiced culture among society that is always accompanied by an act of reciprocation. However much a gift might seem to be offered for free, it is always accompanied by gratitude or generosity in the future. It is evident that gifts enhance social relations and friendship among people. Other awards are given to boost the economic ties and increase trade. Therefore, there are no free gifts apart from those that are given naturally by God, such as the air that we breathe.

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Works Cited

Cronk, Lee. Reciprocity and the Power of Giving. New York: Pearson, 2003. Lee, Richard Borshay. Eating Christmas in the Kalahari(1969). New York, 2011. Ongka's Big Moka. Dir. Charlie Nairn. Perf. Andrew Strathen. Prod. Charlie Nairn. 2017.

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Some people view giving presents as an important way to show care to family and friends. Others think there are more important things that can be done to show care and appreciation. Discuss both views and give your opinion.