Giving

Giving comes in all shapes and sizes and does not rely on money. Strong FC recognises the benefits of giving in different ways:

your time

a listening ear

a helping hand

support

And on occasion a gentle push in the right direction (usually to get out of the house and bare the cold and dark).

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴?

Giving, whether it’s time, money, skills, or acts of kindness, can greatly enhance your well-being. Here’s how:

1. Boosts Happiness and Satisfaction - Helping others activates regions of the brain associated with pleasure and reward. This “𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵” creates a 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗷𝗼𝘆

2. Reduces Stress - Acts of generosity 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 levels by shifting focus away from personal challenges and fostering a 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲.

3. Strengthens Social Connections - Giving often brings people closer, creating 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀 and building a 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, which is key for emotional health.

4. Improves Mental Health - Generosity is linked to lower rates of depression and anxiety as it encourages a 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 and contributes to a 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵.

5. Cultivates Gratitude - When you give, it often makes you reflect on what you have, fostering a 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 and reducing feelings of scarcity.

These factors combined help to increase Physical Health - lower stress levels, reduced anxiety and increased happy hormones experienced from giving are proven to lead to reduce blood pressure and improved cardiovascular health.

𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖 𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪.