Philanthropy is the desire to enhance the welfare of others. Monetary donations to a reputable charitable organization are a good way of giving but not the only way. You can also consider volunteering your time to noble causes.
As someone with the desire to improve lives through education, Joey Horn chose to support projects geared towards enhancing children’s lives, such as Restore the Music UK and Right to Play. Joey has also volunteered her precious time in guest professor positions and several boards. After serving in those positions for a considerable amount of time, she has come to realize that contributing your time to a noble act is more fulfilling than giving monetary donations.
During a global pandemic, philanthropy is more important than before. Donating your time or money during a global crisis gives you a sense of gratification. Here are concrete ways of how contributing to noble acts can improve your life.
It gives you a viewpoint
Joey has come to find that if she stays for a long time without contributing to others’ lives in a meaningful way, she begins to feel less essential, and that kind of life lacks meaning. Engaging in charitable acts makes one view life from a different perspective. Dedicating a portion of your money to noble causes helps you to become reconciled to the idea of your own continuance. After all, we are in this world for a short period, and we will leave all the money we have behind.
Joey Horn knows that it’s imperative to volunteer your time and interact with other people to move from your own circle. If you interact with people facing different challenges, you will view life from a broader perspective.
It elevates your happiness and health
No matter the type of philanthropy you dedicate yourself to, studies have shown that giving has an array of positive effects. According to recent research, spending money on others rather than on ourselves improves overall happiness.
Scientifically, contributing to philanthropic courses activates neural activity in the brain part that is associated with pleasurable activities and reward processing. Even small actions such as cooking a meal, running errands, and giving emotional support causes participants to experience increased happiness and extension of life expectancy.
It’s like ‘saving’ for your future help
As the old saying goes, “no man is an island.” It would be selfish to think that others have not helped us in life. There are countless instances in life where were it not for our friends, family, or even strangers; we wouldn’t have made it.
Therefore, it is prudent to support noble courses that emphasize education, health, and family. Philanthropy is a smart way to pay for the support you received and to pay in advance for the support you will need in the future. No matter the strides you have made in your career life, it is essential to know that there are others behind you. Uplifting the generation behind you is the best way you can repay those who came to your rescue when you were starting.
You are conforming to human nature
As said earlier, giving has an effect on our happiness. The reward mechanism in our brains is triggered when we receive something and not when we donate. However, scientists have proved that giving something triggers this system more even than when receiving. We also improve our impersonal attachment by giving. By being generous to someone, you don’t only put a smile on their face but also make them feel closer to you. We experience a sense of connectedness when we put our needs aside to help those in unfortunate situations. Shifting attention outside yourself onto others gives a sense of gratification.
