Generosity

Christmas time is almost here. It could be called, you’ll forgive my broken English, the “generosity month”. All people around the world increase their charitable donations. During this particular month we have the need of feeling good. Donations have that effect, generosity has that effect.

Sadly it doesn’t apply to everyone, many donate just to impress their girlfriends, to impress their friends, to obtain favours, even jobs. Whereas I’m convinced the overwhelmingly majority of us donate for a genuine sense of altruism, generosity. To help those in need and to make the world a better place. Positive feelings that encourage more giving.

The more you give based on objective reasons, the more the positive sensation increases. On the contrary donating based on personal reasons (e.g. in memory of a relative) decreases that positive sensation, wherefore it’s note genuine generosity anymore but serves our personal relief, our individual suffering. I envy those who devote their lives to helping others, or those who take high-payed jobs merely to have a disposable income they can donate: there aren’t many of them around. It’s genuine selflessness replacing philanthropy-style kindness.

Of course there are evident tax-deductions benefits and very effective free advertisement in case of high-profile, like Elon Musk. Related to much higher benefits for poor people receiving the money, though.

But emotions reinforce kindness. Only when emotion, passion and empathy are added to philanthropy we have, in my view, evidence of a powerful altruism. Which otherwise would only be a positive but unnatural, distant, moral abstraction.

Scientists have also demonstrated that when emotion is involved makes altruism healthier. Because generous, kind behaviour and genuine concern for others reduce the stress and anxiety levels. It’s a win-win situation reducing suffering in the world. Just make sure who you’re donating to, I personally don’t trust worldwide organizations, but it’s just my opinion. The more directly you donate, the better. E.g. to a well known local missionary who collect the money and use it himself in a poor Country where it’s needed without being wasted.

If the feeling isn’t unnatural to you, try to be involved, to understand where the money you’re donating will be mostly needed and turn your empathy in that direction: the difference will be immense. Do not reduce your generosity, your values, merely to a generic goal-oriented action. Open your heart. Because giving in itself expresses our values and that link must be embraced, we must align with it.

It’s almost Christmas. Do yourself a favour by doing it for others.

….Always humble,

Angiolino