Who hasn’t heard the adage, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving”? Recent studies have shown that not only are givers happier, they are also living longer and healthier lives!

Researchers have recently looked into what is known as the “helper’s high” – that warm fuzzy feeling you get from helping others – and how it affects us emotionally and physically. Since this is a time of the year when people are thinking about gratitude and giving back, let’s talk about some of the ways having a giving spirit can benefit you.

Benefits of giving

We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” 
~Winston Churchill

In everyday life, many people volunteer — whether it’s serving at soup kitchens, cleaning up litter, taking seniors to the grocery store, or helping a next-door neighbor. These people are motivated by an unselfish desire to help others with no thought of repayment. Nevertheless, there are dividends to be reaped from having a giving spirit. Here are just a few: