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When we're motivated by a real sense of giving, research shows that we benefit just as much as the people we give to.

Providing support to others can come in different forms. People can, of course, donate their valuables to charity. Furthermore, donating time to a worthy cause is another opportunity for people to contribute to the greater good.

In actuality, there are a plethora of methods by that people can help those in need. Whatever path is chosen, one thing is certain: those who volunteer their time and resources reap numerous rewards in return.

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."

Proverbs 11:25

Here are eight reasons that giving is beneficial to you.

1. Giving makes you happy.

Giving makes you feel good. Many people find it difficult to believe that sacrificing for other people can result to a happier and more cheerful outlook. However, it appears to be the case. Giving appears to be a circular phenomenon, as it contributes to a greater sense of happiness. Happy individuals give more, and giving makes people happier, thus happiness and giving may function in a positive feedback loop (with happier people giving more, getting happier, and giving even more). And, at a time when we seem to be surrounded by bad news and difficult circumstances, generous acts may be one of the things that can help us become happier and more confident in our everyday lives.

2. Giving improves one's health.

Recent research suggests that giving - both in terms of valuable commodities and time improves the well-being of the giver. In fact, House, Landis, and Umberson in 1998 reported in their journal that rendering helps to people and social connectedness brings about as much improvement as exercise, lowering blood pressure and reducing weight.

Furthermore, this good effect was observed in all types of partnerships, regardless of gender, age, or origin country. The main message is that being socially active and giving to others is beneficial to your health.

3. Giving is contagion.

Good deeds—acts of humanity, compassion, and cooperation—spread like a virus over social networks, according to one of the most striking research discoveries. Surprisingly, this domino-like impact can be created by just a few people.
This discovery, made by the University of California News Center and researchers James Fowler and Nicholas Christakis, suggests that "cooperative and helpful behavior is contagious, spreading from person to person."
Furthermore, when people receive compassion, they are more likely to "pay it forward" by assisting others who were not initially involved, resulting in a stream of coalition that affects a lot more people in a social network.' Knowing this, act of kindness can easily make the world a better place.

4. Your mood improves when you help others.

When people observe upsetting events and conditions, it's understandable that they feel compelled to help. However, this is a positive thing, and seeing it happen restores and/or strengthens our faith in people. What's more astonishing is that assisting individuals in need cause a "spike" in the levels of feel-good neurochemicals in the brains of those who are assisting. Indeed, a team of researchers at the National Institutes of Health led by neuroscientist Jorge Moll revealed that when people volunteer their time and money, they experience a phenomenon called "helper's high." Especially when doing something helpful for someone in need appears to excite the brain, causing it to generate these "feel-good" neuromodulators (such as vasopressin and oxytocin). When these two hormones are produced, they produce a powerful sense of fulfilment—so powerful, in fact, that they can become addictive, resulting in a virtuous cycle (in which the person doing the actual giving feels so wonderful that they do it again and again).

5. You'll live longer if you give.

Giving to others offers another unexpected benefit: it extends one's life span. Indeed, studies show that giving time and/or resources not only improves one's quality of life, but also extends one's time on this planet. A group of California academics looked into the volunteering practices of a sample of senior citizens. When compared to those who did not make volunteering a priority, those who made themselves available for volunteer opportunities had a 63 percent lower chance of dying. Other studies have confirmed these findings, demonstrating the importance of giving and volunteering in extending one's life. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this benefit is that experts believe it is due to the fact that giving strengthens an identity of independence and usefulness to others, offering a sense of purpose and a cause to get up every day and keep going.

6. Giving improves your social network.

Giving also consolidates your social network and strengthens your bonds. When you volunteer or make a monetary donation, you become a member of a loving, unified, and cohesive community. You will have countless opportunities to meet new people and make new friends.
You'll have plenty of opportunities to show that you care about others and appreciate their relationships during your time together. Others will get closer to you as a result of your actions. As a result, not only will this passionate connection make a difference in someone else's life, but it will also boost your social support and bolster your network, giving you a deeper sense of belonging to something bigger than yourself.

7. Giving makes people feel more empathic and grateful.

Empathy is characterized by the ability to be able comprehend and share another person's feelings. It is an incredibly valuable emotion and a tangible reward of act of kindness. We can precisely discern the pain of others in need when we see them. This sensation is known as empathy, and it causes internal anguish, prompting us to act—usually in the future orm of offering assistance or financial support. By assisting others, we are able to alleviate some of the tension we are feeling, which makes us feel better.

8. Giving makes it more likely for people to do nice things for you.

Last but not least, charitable giving enhances the possibility that people will reciprocate by doing wonderful things for you. Despite the fact that this is one of the benefits of act of kindness that is least likely to be sought after, researchers believe it is true. In fact, countless studies have shown that when someone receives an act of kindness from someone else, they are far more likely to return the favor. Furthermore, many people will go to great lengths to ensure that the person who has shown compassion is aware of how much their endeavor is appreciated. Even if you did not contribute for this purpose, it is essential that you accept appreciation and reciprocation with kindness and gratitude because many people who receive generous assistance feel terrible because they are in need and are inconveniencing another human being. You can increase their pride and self-esteem by accepting their returned kindness. Moreso, people will also help you in your time of need if they know you are kind and generous.

REFERENCES

• Fowler, J. and Christakis, N. (2010). “Cooperative Behavior Cascades In Human Social Networks.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences(PNAS). Accessed on 11/30/16 via online at http://www.pnas.org/content/107/12/5334.full.

My name is Akanbi-Muhammad Saheed, a final year student of University of Ilorin. I am an affiliate and information marketer. For the past few months now I've been learning about crypto, getting to know valuable people on steemit, creating contents, supporting and helping this community to grow bigger. It is my ultimate plan to build a solid reach and engagement on Steemit.