Did you know that giving back is really good for you?

The science of altruism suggests that acts of charity provide mutual benefit for the giver and the recipient.

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At first glance, the phrase “it is better to give than to receive” reads like a slogan created to sell merchandise. However, there is some real science to back up the sentiment and show that giving can be healthy for the giver.

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Paul S. Walia, a certified mental health counselor and school psychologist, explains how that sense of well-being we get when we give to others comes down to altruism.

“Altruism is the selfless concern for the welfare of others,” says Walia. “Altruism not only improves the lives of others, it also improves the well-being of the donor. Recent studies have shown that participating in altruistic activities leads to greater life satisfaction and an overall reduction in stress. “

One of those studies published in the magazine Sleep Science Practice in 2017 found that older participants, when they responded positively to the idea of ​​giving, were 63% less likely to experience sleep apnea, 52% less likely to suffer from restless leg syndrome, and demonstrated better overall quality of the dream.

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“Helping people cultivate a purpose in life could be an effective drug-free strategy to improve sleep quality, particularly for a population facing more insomnia,” said lead author Jason Ong in a press release at the time. .

The process gives new meaning to the old adage, “anything that helps you sleep at night.” However, the benefits of altruistic behavior go far beyond rest. Health benefits for those who prioritize charitable acts may include lower blood pressure, less depression, a longer life, and greater overall happiness in all aspects of life.

Happiness itself should not be overlooked when ranking the important results of giving. In many ways, a positive disposition dictates the direction a person takes and the paths they choose to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

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Researchers suggest that simply by seeing another person doing an act of charity, a person is more likely to give to those in need. FAKE IMAGES

“When we are able to make a positive contribution to others and to society, we see our lives and our work as meaningful and relevant,” continues Walia. “By fostering positive change in the lives of those around us, we consider ourselves capable and powerful with the means to contribute positively to the lives of others.”

A study Harvard University deduced the same. When the researchers examined the moods and lifestyles of generous people, they found that “existing evidence suggests that happier people actually help more in a variety of contexts.”

They then added: “Our own recent research suggests that altruistic financial behavior, such as giving gifts and charitable donations, can promote happiness.”

Maria Romer Guzzetta LCSW-R, BCD is the clinical director for Lock and Key Therapy in New York. As she sees it, the benefits of giving aren’t just abstract, research-proven numbers. In many ways, it is obvious for common sense reasons in real world settings.

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“You cannot be happy and sad at the same time, so by giving you are choosing to be happy. There is no room for sadness, ”says Guzzetta. “Giving and even smiling is contagious.”

Ironically, there are studies that show it too. In 2014, researchers from The Market Center and Public Organization in Bristol he found that simply by seeing another person doing an act of charity, a person is more likely to give to those in need. In fact, receiving encouragement to be charitable from someone close to you can quadruple your chances of making a donation yourself to a philanthropic cause.

You can’t rule out the social aspect of any of this. Experiments carried out and published in the Risk and uncertainty journal reported that those seeking to donate were much more likely to do so when the recipient was a single identifiable beneficiary, rather than a statistic or distant cause.

In the end, giving can benefit both the giver and the recipient, but the impact it has on all of us might be the most important outcome of all, as Walia points out.

“By fostering a sense of self-denial and empathy, altruism creates a powerful social dynamic between people, rooted in acceptance and charity, that benefits all of society.”

The story was created by Content works, Postmedia commercial content division.

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Reference-theprovince.com

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