Have you ever noticed that there are two active components to the word Thanksgiving?
 | On one hand, we are asked to be thankful and express Gratitude. On the other, we are called upon to give and express Generosity. |
The health and psychological benefits of expressing Gratitude and Generosity are numerous. Let's start with Gratitude:
Next, the benefits of Giving and paying our blessings forward:
But Wait! There's More!
A study of more than 3 thousand volunteers showed that regular helpers were 10x more likely to be in good health than people who don’t volunteer. (Luks, Healing Power of Doing Good, xi)
And consider the following:
People 55 and older who volunteer for 2 or more organizations have a 44 % lower likelihood of dying – which is a stronger effect than exercising 4 times a week or going to church!
Adolescents whose primary motive is helping others are:
•3 times happier than those who lack altruistic motivation.
•More active, involved, excited, and engaged.
•Less depressed with a lower suicide risk
•Less likely to fail a subject in school, get pregnant, or abuse substances.
•Feel more competent and have higher self-esteem.
(study conducted by Christine Carter, PhD - sociologist and happiness expert at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center)
And consider the following:
People 55 and older who volunteer for 2 or more organizations have a 44 % lower likelihood of dying – which is a stronger effect than exercising 4 times a week or going to church!
Adolescents whose primary motive is helping others are:
•3 times happier than those who lack altruistic motivation.
•More active, involved, excited, and engaged.
•Less depressed with a lower suicide risk
•Less likely to fail a subject in school, get pregnant, or abuse substances.
•Feel more competent and have higher self-esteem.
(study conducted by Christine Carter, PhD - sociologist and happiness expert at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center)
I want to hear from you!
One way my family has paid blessings forward is with the creation and sharing of Blessings Bags. See my post written for the site How Does She HERE to learn more. This post has been pinned nearly 30,000 times, having a ripple effect of its own and inspiring acts of generosity in several countries and all across the United States. You never know how far one act of kindness will travel!
Please comment with inspiring acts of kindness you have shared, or acts of kindness that you have been the recipient of below.
Happy Thanks & Giving!
Please comment with inspiring acts of kindness you have shared, or acts of kindness that you have been the recipient of below.
Happy Thanks & Giving!
