Giving Can Make Us Happier - But How We Give Matters

Chances are that you have already discovered that when you share kindness and generosity to support others who may be in need can trigger a whole host of positive emotions. And research has also confirmed this. But did you know that how we choose to give can also make a difference?

In the following TEDTalk given by social psychologist and author Elizabeth Dunn, she shares research that they have discovered about giving and it's relationship with happiness.

It turns out that how we actually engage in our giving can have a significant impact on how much happiness we receive in return from it. As Elizabeth shares in her talk, the more involved we actually feel in impacting someone positively on a human to human level the more happiness we in turn will feel ourselves. By giving in this way, this engages our natural desire to connect and support each others as human beings.

So given everything that has been going on in our lives these days and the challenges that so many are experiencing, this is a great time to give what you can. And if you can make a human connection while doing it - that's even better.

As Elizabeth suggests, "Let's stop thinking about giving as this moral obligation and start thinking of it as a source of pleasure." 

Because it can be.

Here's Elizabeth's TEDTalk;