The Voice of Southwest Louisiana December 2017 Issue

SWLA giving
Giving Back:
THE ULTIMATE PATH
TO HAPPINESS
By Carra Sergeant, LPC
‘Tis the season
of giving; what
better time to
take a look at the
mental health
benefits of giving
and giving back?
“In everything I showed you
that by working hard in this
manner you must help the
weak and remember the
words of the Lord Jesus,
that He Himself said, ‘It is
more blessed to give than to
receive.” Acts 20:35
Our lives are richer when we
share, and great joy comes
from helping others to
better their lives. Truly giving
from the heart fills your life
with joy and nourishes your
soul. As Mahatma Gandhi
said, “To find yourself, you
must first lose yourself in
the service of others.” Giving
takes you out of yourself and
allows you to expand beyond
earthly limitations. The act of
giving kindles self-esteem and
brings happiness. True joy lies
in the act of giving without
an expectation of receiving
something in return.
When people are asked
why they give, the readiest
answers include: God wants
me to; I feel better about
myself; others need, and I
have; I want to share; it’s only
right. The question I would
ask is how did you feel when
you gave to others? I imagine
you felt very pleased with
yourself and happy inside.
It has been my experience
that when we are focused on
giving to others, we’re less
likely to become consumed
by our own concerns and
challenges. Giving provides
an opportunity to look
beyond our own world and
see the bigger picture. A great
perspective can be achieved
by stepping out of our own
world and venturing into the
world of other people. Our
worries and challenges may
not seem as significant when
compared to other people’s
situations.
A true gift is something
that is enjoyed twice. First,
by the giver who revels in the
pleasure of giving something
special. Secondly, it is then
enjoyed by the person who
received the special gift. We
need to realize, however,
that it is not always money or
belongings that people need.
So, at this point, you may find
yourself being a bit skeptical,
wondering what you have to
give. In truth, everybody has
something of value to offer.
Many times, giving takes the
form of small, personal acts
of kindness. It’s the things
that can’t be seen, Iike a
few minutes of your time, a
kind word, a simple smile,
some appreciation, a hug of
reassurance, the sharing of
some special knowledge, a
helping hand or even a bit
of support during a difficult
emotional time.
What, you may be asking,
exactly what does “true
giving” mean? Well,
how often do you expect
something back from the
person to whom you give
something? If so, it is not true
giving, but instead it is an
ego based form of giving. It
is giving with an expectation
of something in return. A true
act of giving comes from the
same place inside you as your
deepest happiness. They are
inexplicably intertwined.
One philanthropic
organization uses the catchphrase,
“Give ‘til it hurts”.
This approach is not healthy
and can leave us feeling
depleted and taken advantage
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December 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 5 • Number 5