This Giving Tuesday, Be Selfish — Give on Purpose and For Purpose

If you can think of it, there’s likely an “National Day” for it.

For the zucchini zealots out there, there’s National Sneak a Zucchini onto your Neighbor’s Porch Day. And did you know that there’s a Talk in an Elevator Day? (Awkward chats in claustrophobic settings seem an odd thing to celebrate, but okay.) I actually just randomly searched online to see if there was a National Aardvark Day… and there is.

The point is that there are countless occasions that are entirely made up, but not many gain traction beyond a few scattered enthusiasts (though Talk Like a Pirate Day may have more than a few at this point). It’s noteworthy, then, when a day comes along that really captures the global imagination.

Today is Giving Tuesday. Although it was only launched in 2012, it has been a generosity juggernaut ever since. Last year, more than $400 million was raised online on Giving Tuesday. It reached 150 countries and inspired 3.6 million individual online gifts. In other words, this thing has really caught on.  But why?

Giving undeniably helps others. Often in monumental ways, and sometimes in ways you didn’t expect. But do you know who can enjoy the greatest impact? The giver.

If we give in a way that acknowledges, honors and celebrates the recipient, that gift goes beyond sending a check or clicking ‘Donate’… it becomes a celebration of life and our collective potential as human beings.

That may be the best part: when we give, we’re not just influencing the lives of others, we’re elevating ourselves! It’s selfless and selfish at the same time.

Best. Win-Win. Ever.

In the wake of frenzied festivals of buying like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this day gives us time to pause and reflect on giving instead. It reminds us that generosity is the ultimate renewable resource – the moment we give (as long as we do so with intention), we are enriched in return. This is true from a more high-minded perspective, but it’s also true in the what’s-in-it-for-me sense.

You’re healthier when you give. You’re happier when you give. Heck, you’re even better looking! And that doesn’t even consider the priceless feeling we get by “paying it forward.”

As it turns out, the urge to give may very well be in our DNA. Dr. Elizabeth Dunn, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, has made human happiness her area of expertise – and her work has repeatedly shown the inextricable connection between giving and contentment. I highly recommend taking 15 minutes to watch her inspiring TED Talk on this subject.

Dunn has found that our urge to share what we have is an innate quality passed down over millennia – and that the good feeling we get may be part of our evolutionary heritage. “Human beings have evolved to experience joy from giving because actually our survival really depends on our willingness to make some sacrifices along the way to help each other out,” she said in an interview with CBS.

That is, in part, why giving makes us happy. In fact, studies have shown that giving to charity made about the same difference in overall happiness as having twice as much income.

So the questions become: What to give? And to whom? On Giving Tuesday, your first thought may be donating to organizations. That’s very important, and there are countless worthwhile charities you can consider. Be sure to do your due diligence and then unleash your inner altruist. We can also give to people – individuals we know as well as those we don’t. It’s up to you to decide, but do it with purpose.

Remember that money is only one thing you can give, though, and you’re limited only by your imagination. Volunteer. Donate your car, clothes, furniture, or your credit card miles. Something as simple as a warm smile, a much-needed hug or a willingness to listen can make a huge difference.  Get creative and come up with some ideas of your own, if that intrigues you.

If you’re interested in a deeper dive into the benefits and pathways of giving, compassion, and love, there’s a whole chapter on it in my book Elevate. Or write your own thoughts on the subject. There are few things in life more nourishing than investing in love!

Every one of us can do something to improve the lives of others – and by doing so, we actually improve our own lives. As Maya Angelou said: “I’ve found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”

Liberating your soul… That seems like a worthwhile endeavor for a Tuesday, don’t you think? So let’s start giving!