The Beauty of Giving – Why Charity is Good For the Body and Soul

There’s a reason why ‘social prescribing’ is becoming more and more popular in forward thinking medical centers and doctor’s surgeries all over the Western world. Getting out into the community and performing acts of kindness alongside your neighbors, have done more for our collective wellbeing than any pharmaceutical intervention.

There is a growing body of research that underlines the importance of volunteering and charity to our overall health.

A 2013 study of 100 high school students were divided into ‘volunteers ‘ and ‘non-volunteers’ and were all measured to similar levels of BMI (body mass index) and cholesterol. The volunteers group was then asked to help out with after school programs for younger kids once a week, for two months. All the participants of the study again had their BMI and cholesterol re-measured.

The volunteering group had markedly lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, and lower average BMIs than the non-volunteering group.

What this and other research carried out over the years have highlighted is how improvements in self-esteem, self-worth, and a sense of purpose made a significant impact on overall physical health.

A similar study on older adults showed similar findings – the volunteering participants generally had less belly fat, better cholesterol levels and lower blood sugar. They are also more likely to have lower blood pressure, which means in turn they have lower risks of heart disease and stroke.

Having that sense of purpose in giving back is therefore a crucial part of your sense of wellbeing physically.

But emotionally it can take you even further.

Tom Stoppard, the famous British playwright once said:

“Obviously, you would give your life to your children, or give them the last biscuit on the plate. But to me, the trick in life is to take that sense of generosity between kin, make it apply to the extended family and to your neighbour, your village and beyond.”

This sense of generosity and giving can be traced through many different cultures and religions.

The Alevis – a love and humanist based minority sect of Islam believe that anything you take out of life, should be given back to others in equal measures. Every human on earth is considered equal, and should be treated that way. And a good Alevi will always help others who are struggling to take the next step.

The Islamic festival of Qurbani is celebrated by millions all over the globe. It is considered compulsory for wealthier Muslims to make donations on behalf of themselves and their families to charities who will feed the poor, vulnerable and needy in developing countries. This act of giving is fundamental to the Islamic calendar, and an individual’s quest to become a good Muslim.

Even the origins of Boxing Day – the day after Christmas Day – are founded in acts of charity. The day’s name is founded on the ancient practice of alms boxes being placed in churches during the advent season for the collection of monetary donations from parishioners. Clergy members distributed the contents of the boxes to the poor on December 26^th – a day which is also known as the feast of St Stephen, a Christian martyr renowned for his acts of charity.

But never forget, no matter how much time and money you do or don’t have to give, always make sure that you practice self care first and foremost. On aeroplanes they always tell parents to put on their own oxygen masks before helping their children. This philosophy needs to be applied to life in general. Taking care of yourself means that you have the strength, energy and resources to pay this forward to those less able.

Don’t be a martyr.