Why we like giving

There have been a lot of studies recently on happiness and how to achieve it, and it turns out that one way is through giving to others – a classic win win!

Scientists believe that altruistic behaviour produces the positive feeling known as the “helper's high” and it may even have the added benefit of reducing stress and anxiety.

Whenever you are engaged in a giving situation, your body releases endorphins which react with opiate receptors in the brain. This leads to a feeling of euphoria. In addition to that, the production of the neurotransmitter known as serotonin in the body is triggered. This causes us to feel happy and experience a positive attitude - the "warm glow" experienced after giving to charity or by being generous. 

So the saying “Money can't buy happiness, unless you spend it on others” is now scientifically proven, right?

Generosity could be seen as part of the human survival instinct. Even the simple act of sharing food or shelter with another person is an example of humanity's intrinsic generosity….or that’s what I’d like to think. If we were an overwhelmingly selfish species, wouldn't we have become extinct a long time ago?

So now that we’ve got that straight, let’s just get on and do more of it :)