Why Giving Makes Us Feel Good
Why Giving Makes Us Feel Good
by Kevin Boerup
Every year, as the holidays approach, something subtle shifts in the way people move through the world. We hold doors a little longer. We look neighbors in the eye. We pause before tossing loose change into a jar. Giving feels easier this time of year, almost natural, as if generosity is part of the season itself. But the truth is deeper. Giving does not only help the person on the receiving end. It lifts the giver, steadies the heart, and reminds us what it means to live with purpose.
Scientists, religious teachers, and local community workers all point to the same idea. Helping others is good for us. It raises our spirits, strengthens our sense of belonging, and grounds us in gratitude. In places like Tucson, where community bonds run strong, these effects shape the character of the season. To understand why giving feels so good and why it matters now more than ever, it helps to look at how generosity touches every part of a person, from the mind to the spirit to the community around them.
The Brain Responds to Kindness
Modern research shows that giving activates the reward centers of the brain. When we help someone, even in a small way, our brains release chemicals that create a sense of warmth and satisfaction. This is sometimes called the helper’s high, but you do not need a scientific label to know the feeling. It is the sense of lightness that comes after paying for a stranger’s coffee, the pride that settles in after dropping off canned food, or the quiet joy of wrapping a gift meant for someone who will never know your name.
These reactions remind us that giving is not just a duty or a moral ideal. It is part of the way humans are built. We are wired to take care of one another. Acts of generosity reinforce that wiring. They help reduce stress, ease loneliness, and increase emotional stability. During the holidays, when the pace of life becomes uneven and emotions run high, this natural boost can be especially powerful.
Still, the science describes only part of the picture. Generosity does something to the soul that scans and studies cannot fully capture.
Religious Teachings Rooted in Compassion
Across the world’s major religions, giving has always been at the heart of spiritual life. It is presented not as a burden but as a source of joy.
In Christianity, the message is straightforward. Love your neighbor as yourself. The idea is not about grand gestures. It is about the steady habit of seeing other people as worthy of care. The New Testament often links giving with cheerfulness, teaching that generosity should come from the heart, not from pressure. When families give during the holidays, they echo this rhythm of joyful offering.
In Judaism, the principle of tzedakah frames giving as an act of justice. Helping others is not optional. It is part of creating a fair and compassionate world. The highest form of tzedakah is giving in a way that protects the dignity of the recipient. This approach aligns closely with the work many Tucson charities practice today, where respect and support go hand in hand.
In Islam, charity is woven into daily life. Zakat encourages Muslims to share their wealth with those in need as a way to purify both possessions and spirit. Another form of giving, sadaqah, focuses on voluntary kindness. The simple act of offering a smile or a kind word is included. This broad definition reminds us that generosity does not always involve money. It can be time, attention, or comfort.
Even traditions outside the Abrahamic faiths highlight the same theme. In Buddhism, generosity is the first of the perfections, seen as the gateway to greater compassion and understanding. Giving reduces attachment to material things and encourages a more open heart.
The convergence across these teachings is striking. Giving is both a moral practice and a spiritual pathway. It shapes character. It brings joy. It connects individuals to something larger than themselves. During the holidays, many families feel closer to these values, even if they do not identify with a specific tradition. The season invites reflection, and reflection brings people back to what matters most.
How Giving Strengthens Families
Generosity also plays a quiet but powerful role in family life. When children see adults give, they learn empathy. They learn that kindness does not need applause. They learn that their actions can make a real difference.
A family that volunteers together or donates together creates shared memories that stick long after decorations come down. The experience becomes part of the family story. Maybe a child remembers choosing a toy for a holiday drive. Maybe a teenager remembers sorting food at a pantry or delivering blankets to a shelter. These moments teach responsibility without lectures. They show that giving is a choice and a privilege.
Parents often discover that generosity brings the family closer. My family and I experienced this some years ago when we discovered how fun it was to ‘do’ the Twelve Days of Christmas anonymously. We chose someone we knew and secretly dropped off small, sometimes humorous, gifts using the 12 days text as the message. Doorbell dash was the M.O. which became dicier when the recipient lived in a large apartment complex. We still fondly reminisce about those years.
Tucson’s Tradition of Helping
Tucson has a long history of neighbors stepping up for one another. The city’s culture of openness and warmth plays a major role in this. Local charities notice a clear rise in support as the holidays approach. Food banks see more volunteers. Shelters receive more donations. Community groups hear from families who want to help but may not know where to start.
This seasonal surge makes a real difference. Many Tucson organizations rely on holiday giving to support programs that run all year. When donations rise in December, it keeps shelves stocked in March. When volunteers show up for a single event, they often return later. The holiday spirit becomes a doorway to long term involvement.
Groups focused on housing, food security, youth support, and elder care all benefit from the generosity of local families. Many organizations work directly with people who face hard conditions made tougher by colder nights and seasonal expenses. Extra hands and extra resources during the holidays help them extend services when demand is highest.
There is also the simple truth that giving builds community identity. When Tucson residents rally around a common cause, they strengthen the ties that make the city feel like home. Local charities often say that the holiday season reveals something true about the region. People here care. They want to see each other thrive.
Why Giving Matters
The good feeling that comes with giving is not limited to one month of the year. It is a reminder of the kind of world we can build if generosity becomes a habit instead of a seasonal event. The holidays simply make it easier to notice the needs around us and the joy that comes from meeting those needs.
Generosity encourages mindfulness. It keeps people aware of the lives beyond their own. It softens the sharp edges of daily stress. It deepens connections across neighborhoods that might otherwise remain strangers.
For families in Tucson and beyond, the holiday season offers a clear chance to practice the kind of giving that uplifts both the giver and the receiver. Whether that means donating to a local food pantry, volunteering at a shelter, offering support to a family in a tough season, or simply choosing kindness in everyday moments, the impact is real.
In the end, giving feels good because it aligns with who we are meant to be. It strengthens the mind, steadies the spirit, and binds communities together. When people choose generosity, they push against isolation and build something stronger in its place. They create hope. They create connection. They create the meaning that so many seek during the holidays.
And the beauty is this. Anyone can give. Anyone can help. Anyone can start today.
