Christmas is oftentimes called “The Season of Giving,” but with many people also struggling with money during this time, it can be challenging to give. But according to Registered Financial Planner and business anchor Edric Mendoza, there is power in giving, and that instead of focusing on what we can get, we can also focus on what we can give to others.
When talking about selflessness and the power of giving, even though it may sound counterintuitive, especially to a financial planner such as Mendoza, but when we choose to give, shockingly, we are able to get. He adds that to get more, we need to give more. But giving is not only about money, for one can also give their time and energy, which are also valuable.
For instance, giving time and energy to our job will likely get us a raise, promotion, and an increase because our superiors see our output and contributions. The things that we gain from giving may not necessarily be money, but we are always bound to be rewarded or gain something in return when we give. On another benefit of giving, Mendoza quotes a study made by psychologists about how helping others can trigger a release of oxytocin, which boosts our mood and counteracts the effects of cortisol, which causes stress.
The chemicals dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin in our bodies are called the happiness trifecta and are able to give us pleasant feelings when we help others. Small, repeated boosts of this happiness trifecta will produce the most benefit, so we should find ways to give often, for it also helps our bodies. When we devote our money, time, and energy to helping others, we get a feeling of happiness that is unparalleled.
Mendoza then quotes Luke 6:38 from the Bible, which says, “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Receiving is an ability that can be unlocked by giving more of your money, time, and energy. He also shares his own life experiences and how the more he gave his money, time, and energy, the more his life improved. Even though these are challenging times, we still need to be selfless, not just during the Christmas season or “The Season of Giving,” but throughout the year. If we give in whatever circumstances that we are in, we will experience the power of giving and the blessings that it will give to our lives.
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