Tis Better to Give Than to Receive

Yeah, Yeah. Yeah. What­ev­er. Isn’t that just some­thing your mom always told you so that you would­n’t be upset when your sib­lings got bet­ter gifts than you? Well, lo and behold, maybe Mom was right!

Researchers have found that the mesolim­bic path­way is acti­vat­ed by char­i­ta­ble giv­ing. This area is one of the major path­ways where you find the neu­ro­trans­mit­ter dopamine, which is asso­ci­at­ed with the brain’s plea­sure sys­tem. Fur­ther­more, donat­ing also appears to increase the release of oxy­tocin, a hor­mone that acts as a neu­ro­trans­mit­ter and is involved in social bond­ing and build­ing trust between people.

So this hol­i­day, find a way to give back. Not only will it make you feel bet­ter, but social activ­i­ties are good stress reduc­ers too. If you and your fam­i­ly are at each oth­ers’ throats with too much togeth­er­ness, plan an activ­i­ty together.

• Go feed the hun­gry at a local com­mu­ni­ty center
• Walk the dogs at a local shelter
• Vis­it the sick at a hospital
• Clean a park or beach together

Hav­ing an activ­i­ty togeth­er will take the focus off of each oth­er and give you a rea­son to work togeth­er, bond, and enjoy your dopamine/oxytocin rush. It’s good for your brain.

Cheers!