The more you give, the more you receive.
When we give stuff away, we make the world a better place.
Generous people feel better about themselves. They report a greater sense of life satisfaction and happiness. They build stronger relationships with others. Studies have even linked generosity to improved physical health.
Giving also benefits the receiver. We improve their lives. We fight to overturn injustice. We offer an example to the world of a better way to live. And spur others to do the same.
But maybe the greatest benefit of generosity is the realization that we already have enough.
Our society is held hostage by the pursuit of more. No matter how much we have, we always seem to need more—more stuff and more money.
We choose our careers for the sake of securing more. We spend the best hours of our day trying to obtain more. We get jealous when “less-deserving” people seem to have more. And we constantly worry about having enough.
But this constant desire for more is having damaging effects on our society. 71% of us report feeling stress about money. There are some who experience this anxiety because of legitimate financial need, but for most of us, this stress is misplaced. In a world where 6 billion people live on less than $13,000/year, most of our financial-related stress occurs because of artificially-manufactured need.
Generosity changes these thoughts and helps to remove this pursuit. It reveals to us how blessed we already are. It reminds us we already own more than we need. It shows us how much we have to give and how much good we can accomplish. It helps us see the needs of those we live alongside. And it offers a better alternative for our money than spending it on ourselves.
Generosity counters materialism and consumerism in our lives. It reminds us that we already have enough. It wars against greed and selfish pursuits. It aligns our life with higher purposes. And offers a better way to live.
Give more things away. Your life will feel lighter. Your heart will feel warmer. And the world will be better. (tweet that)
Make a financial donation to a charity you support. Donate clothing you don’t wear, sporting equipment you don’t use, books you have read, or furniture taking up space. Be generous with your time by volunteering at your local school, homeless shelter, or nonprofit of your choice.
Just give something away this week. And be reminded that you already have more than you need.
Ann says
This is a wonderful post, especially this time of year when giving is not at the forefront of people’s minds. I am wondering… Is it possible for someone to be too generous?
Ammar says
This post was well written and even more importantly spoke directly to the heart. Congratulations.
Kush Sharma says
Nice read! I think the truly generous person is the one who is selfish. Yes I know this sounds a little contradictory. But the selfishness I refer here is the one that focuses on only pursuing your won happiness, and doesn’t involve robbing others to make oneself happy.
When you are happy with yourself, you will naturally feel generous. And unless the love comes out naturally, it is not sustainable.
BrownVagabonder says
Before coming back home from a 10 month road trip from Toronto to Panama, Thenix and I have given away almost all of our clothes, shoes, and other miscellaneous items. Some of these items had a lot of emotional attachment to them due to the fact that they had been with us through the journey, but the minute we gave them away, we felt a certain lightness. The burden of carrying the stuff back home disappeared. I can’t wait to give away more stuff once I am back home and I realize that I really have too much. Compared to so many out there.
Bobby says
Personally this is true to me, whenever I give to the true needy people even I don’t expect anything in return the Lord who is the owner of everything will give me more, more than I need, and I believed He permit this to happen because He wants me to give more, the cycle of giving is more real to me ever since I made an oath to prayerfully give to the needy. God bless you Joshua.
Megan says
Yes Bobby i have definitely found this to be true! I have been receiving ongoing financial blessings recently and it is due to the giving i have been doing. Truly the more i give the more i receive and it has been a blessing for me to be able to give. Giving has enriched my life in so many ways, mainly by giving me another purpose beyond myself.
Dom says
Kudos to you Joshua for sharing this eye-opening article regarding the importance of generosity. The world needs more of this. Very well said. Time to share it.
Judy says
Thank you, Joshua. We changed the brakes yesterday on someone’s car and bought them lunch. When they wanted to give us some money—we told them “No way! Just pay it forward and do something nice for someone else today.” These people just needed it break in life—and it felt SO good to be the one to give it to them.
Gaylene says
It is amazing that as I start down this minimalism path and give stuff away the move I want to give stuff away. My “overage” can be someone else’s need.
jake naumer says
the charities are generally a rip off … give directly to those in need …
joshua becker says
That’s a pretty cynical view. Most of the charities I have been associated with do good work with good intentions. And bring intelligence, wisdom, and experience to the problems they seek to solve.
Morghan says
A little cynicism can be a good thing.
There are a lot of great charities out there, but there are a lot of scams as well.
My advice is to do your research, especially by talking to people who use them if you can.
Personal experience with charities in the past have given me a list of places I’d rather burn money than support. Thankfully I also found a great many places that I’ve been happy to give back to now that I’m no longer in the position where I’m the one needing help.
Stacy@AWellStockedLife says
You can look up charity information with the Better Business Bureau to make an informed decision about where you would like to contribute and how those funds are managed. Most individuals working in the nonprofit sector are not in it for the big bucks (in my experience).
Home Finances: Choosing to Live on Famine Mode Even During a Feast
http://awellstockedlife.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/home-finances-choosing-to-live-on-famine-mode-even-during-a-feast/comment-page-1/#comment-22
Cindy says
I feel that cynicism. I am very picky as to which charities I will donate to. I buy most things at op shops and some I will no longer go to as they are true rip off merchants. They are no longer there for the poor, they are there as a business to make money.
One way to counteract this is to get close to your community. When you do this you either know, or find out through conversation, who is in need. This also has the advantage of drawing a community much closer together. Win win.
Jazzy says
This is a lovely post – it reminds me that the work I do is really for the cultivation of character and to be of service to others, because truly I “want” for nothing.
Thanx for this reminder, I love to give at Christmas but truly we don’t need a special day. We can give of ourselves 365 days of the year!
feysel ibrahim says
i would love to take your books. its really hard to gate one here