It’s often been said that it’s better to give than to receive,
but did you know that this cliché is actually backed by research? While many
of us feel too stressed and busy to worry about helping others with their
burdens, or would like to think about doing good deeds when we have more
‘spare’ time, energy and money, altruism is its own reward, and can actually
help you relieve stress. Altruistic acts can improve your quality of life in
several ways, and are absolutely worth the effort. Here are some ways that
helping others helps you:
Altruism and Psychological Wellbeing
Studies show that altruism is good for your emotional
well-being, and can measurably enhance your peace of mind. For example, one
study found that dialysis patients, transplant patients and family members who
became support volunteers for other patients experienced increased personal
growth and emotional well-being. Another study on patients with multiple
sclerosis showed that those who offered other MS patients peer support
actually experienced greater benefits than their supported peers, including
more pronounced improvement on confidence, self-awareness, self-esteem,
depression and daily functioning. Those who offered support generally found
that their lives were dramatically changed for the better.
Altruism and Increased Social Support
Studies also show that what goes around generally does come
around. More specifically, when people make altruistic personal sacrifices,
they end up reaping what they sow in the form of favours from others. These
individuals earn the reputation as altruistic people and end up receiving
favours from others who they may not have even directly helped. The favours
and social support you ‘earn’ through altruism, combined with the good
feelings you get from helping others (see above), more than make up for
sacrifices made in the name of altruism.
Keeping Things In Perspective
Many people don’t realize the strong impact that their
comparisons have on their outlook. However, your expectations of life and the
people you compare yourself to can make a real difference in your level of
life satisfaction. For example, your home may seem shabby to you if you’re
comparing it to the living rooms you see in the pages of decorating magazines,
or it may seem palatial and opulent compared to the structures inhabited by
people in impoverished countries. Helping others in need, especially those who
are less fortunate than you, can provide you with a sense of perspective on
how fortunate you are to have what you do in life -- be it health, money, or a
safe place to sleep, and help you focus less on the things you feel you lack.
Helping others with their problems can also help you gain a more positive
perspective on the things in life that cause you stress.
Building a Better Community
When you do something nice for someone else, often the
positive effects go beyond just you and that other person, influencing your
whole community. One of my favourite illustrations of this phenomenon is in
the movie Pay It Forward where one boy’s good deeds have far-reaching
positive consequences. When you do nice things for others, you often enable
them to do nice things for others, and the phenomenon grows. Your children and
your friends may see your good example and behave in more altruistic ways as
well. As Ghandi said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world,"
and you can contribute to a more positive community.
Altruism and Stress Relief
When you feel stressed and overwhelmed, you may feel like
you’re least able to give. However, acts of altruism can be a great form of
stress relief. Studies have shown that the act of giving can activate the area
of the brain associated with positive feelings, lifting your spirits, and
making you feel better the more you give. And given that altruism can lead to
lasting emotional well-being, a more positive perspective, a positive effect
on others, and better social standing, altruism certainly does the job as a
healthy means for relieving stress and increasing life satisfaction.
Sources:
Brunier G,
Graydon J, Rothman B, Sherman C, Liadsky R.
The Psychological Well-Being of Renal Peer Support Volunteers. Journal
of Advanced Nursing. April 2002.
Schwartz CE,
Sendor M.
Helping Others Helps Oneself: Response Shift Effects in Peer Support.
Social Science and Medicine. June 1999.
Harbaugh WT, Mayr
U, Burghart DR.
Neural Responses to Taxation and Voluntary Giving Reveal Motives for
Charitable Donations. Science, June 2007.
