By giving, we gain

As research and everyday experience shows, acting with generosity makes us happier. 

When we’re caught up in our day-to-day routines, it’s easy to lose track of how we’re spending our time, energy, and money. 

But when we mindfully invest these resources in the causes that are important to us, we know we’re putting our values into the world in a concrete and meaningful way. 

Research shows that generosity can foster a sense of community, give us the knowledge that we’re supporting something larger than ourselves, and boost our happiness. Do good, feel good! It really works.

Also, action is often an antidote to anxiety. When we’re feeling overwhelmed by events, we often feel better when we take action, in our own individual ways, to address the challenges and pain we see.

In my study of happiness, my Second Splendid Truth is: 
One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy;
One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.

The first half of this statement is absolutely true–and it’s one of the nicest things about human nature. One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy.

Some people believe that the fact that you get “credit” for a worthy act somehow minimizes its worth, and along the same lines, some people argue that you can never act with true altruism, because performing good acts bring the pleasure of happiness. My view: all the better!

The fact is, the sight of someone performing a generous or kind act always makes me feel happy. Especially if it’s me! The spectacle of virtue inspires the feeling of elevation—one of the most gratifying pleasures that the world offers. As Simone Weil observed, “Imaginary evil is romantic and varied; real evil is gloomy, monotonous, barren, boring. Imaginary good is boring; real good is always new, marvelous, intoxicating.”

Yes, one of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy.

And the second part of the Second Splendid Truth is equally important: One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself. Happier people tend to make people happier. You can’t make someone be happy, but your own happiness often rubs off on other people.

People often imagine that we must choose one course or the other, but in fact the two parts don’t contradict each other, they reinforce each other. 

One of the most common and effective ways to contribute to the happiness, health, and opportunities of others is to donate to causes we believe in. 

But something that can be done at any time is often done at no time. It’s so easy to intend to donate to an important cause–but then forget to follow up, or neglect to do the research to figure out how to support that cause.

That’s why I love the annual day of GivingTuesday! And I’m thrilled that I’ve joined the board of GivingTuesday.

It’s such a simple and powerful idea: Given the intense focus on buying during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, take a day to focus on giving. (Black Friday always falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving, Cyber Monday is the following Monday, and GivingTuesday is the next day.)

GivingTuesday is now a global movement that unites people in generosity.

Asha Curran’s excellent TED talk, “How acts of kindness sparked a global movement,” provides a good explanation. 

Where & how to start: 

The approach of GivingTuesday also reflects the fact that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the question, “What cause should I support?” Each of us must decide that question for ourselves–on GivingTuesday and every other day. Here are some questions to consider:

• What values are important to you–and how might you use your time, energy, or money to support them? For instance, if good health is an important value to you, you might donate money to Doctors Without Borders, donate blood, and sign up to be an organ donor.
• What aspect of your life fills you with the most purpose? 
• What organizations have served you most in your own life? For instance, I donate to libraries because libraries have played an enormous role in my life, and I want to safeguard those opportunities for others.
• As you consider the issues facing the world, what need do you perceive to be most urgent?

Remember, even the smallest actions add up over time. Also, while you’re being generous yourself, you’re also encouraging others to be generous through your example. 

Each year, GivingTuesday is a great reminder to find new ways to be generous–donating, volunteering, small acts of kindness–as we move through the world