Giving your time and resources to others obviously gives you a fuzzy feeling in your gut. That is why everyone gets so excited around the holidays. They want that feeling when someone opens a gift from them. That is also the same thing that happens when you donate to your local church, volunteer at a food drive, or do something else that is considered charitable giving.

However, did you know that there are several other benefits with tangible results? Well, there are, and science has proved it. Let's go over some of the benefits of giving to others.

Chemical Rewards

Giving your time or resources to others actually produces a chemical reaction that rewards your brain. A series of chemicals, including dopamine, flood your brain and light your face up with joy. Those chemicals promote relaxation and happiness, and they are good for your long-term emotional stability.  It is a very similar reaction to what happens when you're around someone you love, or when you eat your favorite meal for the first time in a long time.

As you will quickly learn throughout this article, those chemical reactions have widespread effects on your brain and your life as a whole. In many ways, being generous is more of a benefit to you than it is to those you're giving your time and resources to. 

It's Contagious!

If you want to make the world a better place, there is no better way than being generous. You are not the only one who receives a chemical reward when you give. The receiver does, too. It also makes them much more likely to be generous in the future. In the long run, this starts a chain reaction that affects many more people than just you and the recipient of your kindness. Now, it is unrealistic to think that your donation to a charitable cause will change the entire planet, but it can touch the lives of many, many people, and you'd be surprised by just how much of an impact the smallest contributions, even those that aren't financial, can have.

A Longer Lifespan

Stress is the number-one killer in the world. Our lives move extremely fast in today's world, and there is a lot expected of us. All of that creates stress, and stress makes us susceptible to the diseases that can kill us, or they can cause sudden health issues such as heart attacks and strokes. In some cases, stress can trigger emotional or mental instabilities that have tragic results.

Giving to others lowers your stress levels and helps prevent all of those problems. In fact, it is proven that generous people often live much longer than those who are a bit more greedy. You are not just helping others; you are helping yourself.

It Can Fight Depression

Depression is almost a pandemic on a global scale. It silently affects a large portion of the population, and even those who don't think they're depressed could be suffering from it. Luckily, the same chemical reactions that make generous people live longer and feel better help to fight depression. Being generous can release the very chemicals your brain requires to pull itself out of the dumps and leave you feeling vibrant again. It is needless to say that, that can also impact many other aspects of your life in a positive and productive way.

Get Out There and be Generous

As you can see, being generous can impact your life in ways you probably didn't imagine. It can help you live longer, fight depression, and have a widespread effect on your community. Don't wait around thinking about it. Get out there and give what you can to those around you. You'll receive more by giving than you ever did by asking for more for yourself.