Giving is a Gift for the Giver

There is a common misconception that being charitable requires being rich. On the contrary, you do not need to be a billionaire like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett to have the power to make a difference.

A little can go a long way for charities operating in the developing world. No matter how much you give you can make a positive influence.

And the benefits go both ways. The act of giving is proven to make us feel happier and less stressed.

This phenomenon, the positive relationship between giving and happiness, has been observed in 120 out of 136 countries.

Even allowing for income and other variables, giving to others seems to be a natural happiness booster regardless of your wealth.

In fact, a 2010 working paper published by Harvard Business School discovered that prosocial spending has a similar effect on your wellbeing as doubling your income.

Co-author of several of these papers, Harvard Professor Michael Norton, says, ‘If you think money can’t buy happiness, you’re not spending it right. Stop thinking about which product to buy for yourself, and try giving some of it to other people instead.’

Why Charity Matters

Some of the most important issues across the globe are being faced by non-profit organisations and NGOs.

From the current Rohingya refugee crisis in Myanmar and neighbouring Bangladesh to saving endangered species, these organisations fight for the rights and safety of millions of disenfranchised people and causes the world over.

Oftentimes they act as the voice of the voiceless, drawing attention to issues and circumstances that governments will avoid for politically expedient reasons.

If you still think you are not in a position to give, consider the following.

How You Can Get Involved

The most important thing is deciding to give. The second most important thing is deciding what cause you want to support.

Whether you are donating your time, possessions or money, you will want to give to an organisation that resonates with you.

For example, the hospital or foundation that helped a loved one, or an animal shelter where you got the family pet.

If nothing comes to mind there are several sites that rate charities which could give you an idea of what to look for when it comes to donating. Microfinance and crowdfunding sites are also an option.

For volunteerism, you should check with local charities in your area. There are bound to be ample opportunities to help. Likewise, with donating items.

The internet also offers ways to give to charity going about your daily life, such as Goodsearch which donates 50% of their search revenue to a charity of your choice, and Give As You Live which donates a percentage of your online purchases through their online retail partners.

With a veritable plethora of ways to give charitably exists, these are just a few to help you get started.

Read the original article on discoverydcode.com.

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