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How charitable giving soothes the soul

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newspaperFeeling good is not always easy. The world can be a crazy place and there are all sorts of terrible news stories airing around the clock. If you feel like you are drowning in the negative vibes, you might want to discover how you can break free and restore your faith in humanity. The best way to combat the apathy is by actually trying to do good work for people who need a helping hand. Charitable giving and volunteer work can help to make you feel happier and refreshed about the current state of the world.

Real change starts with you. To get started, it can be a good idea to take a look at the various ways charitable giving soothes the soul and makes you feel downright happy inside. Explore these ideas and feel motivated to get out there and make a difference in the lives of others.

Strengthen Social Connections

Human beings need interaction with other human beings in order to survive and thrive. This might seem contrary to how a lot of people act towards one another but the science behind this is there. When people are close to one another, especially in positive situations, it releases hormones that encourage feelings of connection, contentment, and even joy. On a less scientific level, working with others can simply help to improve social bonds with the people in your community.

When you want to get close to people in your neighborhood, for example, you might want to knock on a few doors and gauge interest in a weekend event to clean up the streets a bit. Often, all you have to do is look around and see a problem that needs fixing to get other people behind you. The philanthropist and entrepreneur Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva did this in her home country of Uzbekistan when she founded her charity for children You Are Not Alone. By seeing an issue in her community and taking action, Karimova-Tillyaeva was able to enact real change.

Stay Healthy

Working within your community to make a difference does a lot more than simply fix a problem and improve your interactions with friends and neighbors. In fact, doing charitable deeds might even be good for your health. According to a study conducted in 1999 at the University of California, participants involved with acts of charity over a five-year period were more likely to have improved qualities of life when compared to participants who did not do any volunteer work. Even when diet and exercise were factored in, charitable givers of all backgrounds were in better health.

While you might not be able to cure yourself of all disease by decided to donate to your favorite charity, it makes sense that this action would be good for you. Doing good deeds makes people feel good, plain and simple. When a person is feeling happy, this is very likely to be reflected in how his or her immune system functions. Many academics believe the hormones released in the body when doing good deeds can decrease stress levels in a person and help to prevent cardiovascular complications that arise from high blood pressure or high-stress living.

Exploring Purpose

Do you often feel like your skills are being wasted in your career? You are not alone in this. Many people work jobs to make ends meet but never feel connected to their work. If you are looking for a way to feel a sense of purpose, charitable giving could be for you. The world of charity goes far beyond giving financial donations. Non-profit organizations are always searching for people with specific skills to lend a few hours of volunteer time. By exploring your options, you might find a perfect fit for your particular skill set.

Feeling like you have a purpose can go a long way to change how you feel about your life. Taking advantage of volunteer opportunities can help to give you direction and motivate you to make a change. Before you know it, you will worry less about the job you hate and be able to take pride in the change you are creating with your volunteer hours. Give yourself a bit of time to research local charities you can get involved with and see where you might be able to put your skills to best use.

Make a Difference

When all is said and done, charitable giving is important because it helps people who need help. While participating in volunteer work or making donations to an important cause might make you feel happy, it can be important to remember the people who will benefit from your decision. The next time you feel bogged down by the weight of bad news that you hear about each day, take a moment to see what steps you can take to change things. Before you know it, you will start feeling good about the world once more and feel like your actions matter.

 

Contributors

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