If I asked you what you wanted right now, unless you’re Mother Teresa you probably wouldn’t immediately answer, “I want to give to others!” Am I right?

Do not be hard on yourself that giving to others is not your first instinctual answer to that question. For most of us, it’s not. And it’s important to point out that this doesn’t make you a bad person, maybe just a little selfish (just kidding). 

How The Act of Giving Can Bring Awesomeness Into Your Life

It’s human nature for us to ensure that ourselves and our loved ones are safe and taken care of. However, in today’s society sometimes this goes a little too far. 

It’s important to remember that if you do not feel the urge to give to others is not your fault and does not make you “inherently bad”. 

Our brains naturally think in a state of our own personal needs. As humans, we are programmed this way naturally. But sometimes our mind’s natural programming needs a little  adjustment and fine tuning to function at it’s very best. 

You may not realize this or think about this often, but there are daily acts that you can practice that naturally attract awesomeness into your life. One of those acts is the act of giving. 

Today I’d like to talk about the benefits of giving and how it can bring awesomeness into your life the very moment you intentionally start adding more of it into your life. 

Every Action has an Equal and Opposite Reaction (This is science!)

Let’s really think about the acts of giving and receiving for a minute and take it back to basics. 

Think about breathing in and breathing out, giving a plant water for it to grow and even life and death. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction with one side depending on the other. 

Remember that old adage, “the more you give, the more you receive?” Now you may be thinking that this is BS. 

Think of a few people right now in your life who appear to have it all and don’t give anything to anyone, better yet the time of day to you. 

1. Even if you think you know their lives (through social media or gossip) ya don’t and 
2. Receiving is different than selfishly taking. One is fear based and one is not. 

Whether on TV or in your personal life, you’ve seen and heard about “hoarding” or selfish taking (don’t be so hard on yourself or other people this is done out of fear). 

Some people have a lot to say about those that take too much from others (use the example of toilet paper during the Coronavirus pandemic for example), but also about those that didn’t prepare or take enough. 

Sometimes you just can’t win, but that’s a different blog on a different day. 

I don’t know about you, but I think it’s time to switch things up a bit and remove the fear based mentality of taking and replace it with the positive energy based mentality of Giving. 

Giving can bring some pretty amazing things into your life. Although I wouldn’t lie to you guys, you don’t have to just take my word for it. 

The Proof is in the Pudding: Proof that Giving Can Lead to Awesomeness

According to a study by a University of Oregon professor and his colleagues, charitable contributions create a response in our brains that mimics the response activated by drugs and other stimuli. 

Charitable giving actually results in a surge of dopamine and endorphins that we experience as rewarding. So who cares that we can’t go spend a night out on the town, according to this study charitable giving can give us just as much if not more pleasure, you’re welcome! 

Another study done by a professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of California Riverside showed that people who gave to others score much higher on feelings of joy and contentment than those that do not give. 

A study in Germany actually showed that if you live within a giving community in general you are going to be happier in your community. Just another good reminder to ensure that you are also surrounding yourself with giving people. Let’s take advantage of that law of attraction here and start giving to attract other givers.  

So now that I’ve done my best to give you a taste of the facts on how giving can benefit you both mentally and physically, let’s not forget that by giving and sending awesomeness to those around you. 

By doing this, you will begin to attract these things and get more awesomeness in your life than you could have ever imagined. 

Here are 7 great ways to start racking in that awesomeness through giving: 

1. Not to be stereotypical here, but give to a charity! Not just any old charity, but one that means something to you. It’s a win/win situation. And if you can’t think of one, feel free to reach out, I have tons of ideas. You can’t go wrong with essential workers and animal shelters. If money is tight and giving to charity feels like something you just can’t afford, ask yourself if you can afford to spare $5 a month. Can you? If not, can you dedicate giving time? Whatever you have the means to give, give. You will still benefit from giving whatever you can offer. 
   
2. Especially right now (though this pandemic) when we’re all trying to support local businesses, it is always a great time to just give a little more than usual. Leave an extra dollar on the tip or even an extra $100…What?! I don’t know your life. 
   
3. Give something away that you love to someone you know that would also love it. And maybe just maybe, don’t tell them. We don’t often give without telling the world it’s from us nowadays, but giving something without the credit definitely takes giving to the next level. 

Now these things don’t all have to be monetary or material. 

4. Like I mentioned earlier, unfortunately some people just have negative things to say or looks to give and sometimes there’s just no winning. But, what about instead of sinking to their level, you raised them up and shared some of your positivity with them? You never know who needs some words of encouragement and just how far a little kindness can go. And everyone loves compliments. I don’t care who you are. 
   
5. Say “yes” a little more. When someone asks you to be there for them, even if it’s not your cup of tea, try supporting and being there for them. Give them your time, a listening ear, or even a shoulder to cry on. And who knows you may actually enjoy doing something you wouldn’t normally do if they hadn’t asked for your support… And if you’re offered something that could really help you and you feel bad taking it, STOP IT! Don’t forget to let others give to you, they deserve awesomeness too! 
   
6. Make people smile more! And no I don’t mean this to be that creepy stranger who says, “you’d look prettier with a smile on your face.” 
   
   I mean actually put a smile on your face and in an effort to make them smile as well, I know it’s a weird concept. Smile and make people laugh as often as possible. It’s pretty hard to laugh and sad cry at the same time. It is amazing what giving a smile could do to someone else’s day, not to mention your own.
7. Last but not least, ENJOY the benefits of giving! Feel how great it feels to give and receive, anticipating all of the awesome things that you can give and that will come into your life. This one is still on the list of giving, because when you create a positive energy inside of yourself, it will exude out of you and others will see it and feel it and believe it or not this stuff rubs. So don’t forget to Feel and Share the Awesomeness that is Giving! 

Let everyone know how Giving goes for you and how Giving has brought Awesomeness into your life and don’t forget to share your own ideas of ways that people can be Givers too! 

And as always, reach out to me if you have any questions about the benefits of giving or anything else we have covered today. I am always here for you. 

All my best, 

Victoria