The Benefit of Giving, Giving Thanks, and Receiving
Reviewed by: Dr. Steven Knauf, D.C.
By Martha Michael
The flow of generosity is nearly palpable over the holidays and the return of the annual turkey trot football game and comfort food on the table can create feelings of warmth and family togetherness. The positive effects of nostalgia aside, there are aspects of the holidays that may seem routine but are beneficial to your health. Traditions such as gift-giving are a big part of many Americans’ Christmas celebrations and being on both ends of it can offer you a boost.
It can be tricky to strike the balance between giving too much vs. not giving enough. But rather than focus on whether the small gift you purchased will meet the standards of an etiquette expert, it’s worthwhile to embrace the aspects of the season that provide health benefits to you, your friends, and your family members.
What’s the Emotional Benefit of Giving?
If you polled your friends, you’d probably find that nearly everyone has experienced the good feeling that comes from helping someone in need. Giving makes people feel happy, according to an article in Greater Good Magazine. Researchers at Harvard Business School found that even when participants expected the reverse to be true, they experienced greater happiness when they gave money to someone else instead of when they spent it on themselves. A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health provides evidence of a physical response in your brain when you support the work of a charity. Regions of your brain associated with social connection and pleasure are activated when you engage in altruistic behavior, probably because your body releases endorphins that produce a flood of happiness, sometimes called a “helper’s high.”
Evidence supports other health benefits to giving, including a reduction in symptoms from chronic diseases. Patients with serious illnesses, such as multiple sclerosis, have improved their outcomes through the practice of generosity.
A study of elderly couples at the University of California, Berkeley, highlights the effect of volunteerism on longevity. Data collected over a five-year period showed that people who gave their time to more than one organization were 44 percent less likely to die than non-volunteers. Research at the University of Michigan adds to those conclusions, citing the benefits to elderly individuals who provide practical help to others, such as emotional support to their spouses. Those who make a habit of giving can reduce stress and lower their blood pressure.
Several factors affect the level of giving we choose and the outcome, says an article in Psychology Today. There’s a tension between how little or how much we give, which is often related to the social connections we have established. The evolution of man from a Neanderthal style of flying solo to the cooperative nature of Homo sapiens has resulted in more connection because survival depends on it.
It’s not all smooth sailing, however; the division of labor isn’t always equal. Selfishness can emerge and some people get away with very little contribution while others are “too nice.” Both ends of the spectrum can be detrimental and neither side wins. The nice person is often seen as foolish and the less industrious person is resented. Although there is no specific rule, avoiding both extremes -- either giving or taking too much -- is ideal. Doing so doesn’t run the risk of added stress from being too self-sacrificing or becoming the target of negative social attention due to self-centered behavior.
What’s the Emotional Benefit of Receiving?
Most Americans grow up with the message that it’s better to give than receive, but it’s not entirely true. It may sound counterintuitive, but there are also health benefits to being on the receiving end of a gift. According to the website for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, or PNAS, both giving and receiving have life-sustaining qualities.
When social support is mutual, the interchange itself has benefits. Research on mortality risk shows that people with relationships in which both parties engage in moderate giving have a better chance of survival than people who are self-sufficient. An assessment over a 23-year period by the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States shows a correlation between a balance of support -- from childcare to transportation -- and a lower risk of mortality.
Social isolation from family and friends is more than just a breeding ground for negative feelings. It joins obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and smoking as a factor that heightens the risk of early death.
While the benefits of giving are made clear in study after study, it’s reasonable to conclude that healthy social relationships involve norms of reciprocity. Theories of equity dictate the idea that disproportionately receiving help is less healthy -- and research bears it out.
Why Are the Holidays Depressing?
As winter approaches so does the chance of darker psychological moments brought on by such conditions as seasonal affective disorder.Though the best parts of the holiday season generate positive emotions, they often occur alongside factors that can bring on the holiday blues, beginning with the emotional impact of Thanksgiving.
Ironically, it’s the highlights of the holidays that can make us feel blue, says an article by the Huffington Post. Seeing holiday happiness depicted in ad campaigns and Hallmark Channel movies can leave people feeling depressed when it doesn’t match their own reality. Some of our patterns of behavior make the emotional impact of Christmas worse than it needs to be.
- Being too busy - Making the holiday perfect for everyone is neither necessary nor possible. You can reduce your anxiety and depression by lowering your expectations.
- Comparing yourself to others - Remember that social media posts are depictions of people’s best moments. Many times they aren’t real, or represent just a singular moment.
- Dropping your health care routine - It’s easy to sideline exercise and yoga class during this time of year, but it isn’t in your best interest.
What Is the Emotional Benefit of Giving Thanks?
If you’ve ever done something nice for someone and it’s gone relatively unnoticed, you know the pain of being underappreciated and the frustration of missing out. Thanksgiving reminds Americans to recognize the benefit of not taking things for granted and finding ways to cultivate gratitude.
An article by UCLA Health says that being thankful is good for you in more ways than one.
Lower Rate of Depression
Studies show that gratitude and depression are inversely correlated. People feeling grateful tend to report:
- Greater satisfaction
- Stronger social relationships
- Higher levels of self-esteem
Recognizing what you have -- versus what you don’t -- adds to feelings of plenty rather than a scarcity mindset. By fostering an attitude of fullness there is less likelihood of looking at a glass half empty.
Lower Anxiety
Negativity stokes worrisome thoughts. When a pattern of anxiety begins, it can take a toll on your health. A discipline involving the practice of gratitude, such as the principles taught in yoga and meditation, can take your mind from future outcomes or past failures and transport it to the present. Letting go of problems -- past and future -- is one way to break free from a cycle of anxiety.
Healthier Heart
When you express gratitude you do more than make someone else feel good. Many factors affected by a grateful mindset contribute to cardiac health, including lower levels of depression and better sleep. Grateful thoughts can reduce stress and boost the parasympathetic nervous system, making it possible to rest and digest. Research shows that keeping gratitude journals can lower diastolic blood pressure.
The symbiotic relationship between giving and receiving may not be as visible as shiny ornaments and neatly-wrapped packages. It turns out ‘tis better to give and receive. There’s no better time of the year than the holidays to stop taking things for granted and enjoy the health benefits of thankfulness.
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