It feels really special when you receive something thoughtful from your loved ones on special occasions – birthdays and holidays. And there’s nothing like seeing the surprised smiles on their faces, as they open the gift you got them! It all makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside.
This Christmas, we thought of delving deeper into what goes on inside our brains, while we exchange gifts. And we discovered that a lot of magic happens there too!
Several studies show that both, receiving and giving, light up areas in the brain connected to different positive emotions. Receiving gifts was related to the release of the neurotransmitter Dopamine. Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that help communicate information throughout our brain and body and Dopamine is strongly associated with the brain’s reward and pleasure centers.
On the other hand, studies show that giving away to charity also was related to the same areas of the brain. This means that even when you give a gift, the your brain’s reward centers get activated as if, you were the recipient of one!
What’s more is that in addition to this, acts of giving activated another chemical, called Oxytocin – nicknamed often as the ‘trust hormone’ or the ‘cuddle hormone’, that is crucial in forming attachments and a feeling of connectedness to others.
In another 2006 study, at the National Institutes of Health, U.S. they found that when people chose to give to charities, it activated areas of the brain associated with social connection and trust, creating a ‘warm glow’ kind of an effect. This positive state of mind associated with giving is also called the ‘helper’s high’.
And as we read more about giving, we came across several studies showing how those who volunteered or performed acts of kindness often, had better physical health, felt less stressed and had overall higher levels of life satisfaction!
To sum it up, when we give – especially without expecting anything in return, we are in a way, gifting ourselves and increasing our own happiness!
The tradition of exchanging gifts during festivities – across different cultures – now makes sense. No wonder festival times make us feel happier and more connected to those around us.
To add to the spirit of giving and receiving, we have created two polls here. Just cast your vote to say what would you love to receive the most, and make sure, you express the same to your loved ones. Take the second poll, and vow to stand true by it!
