Purpose-Driven Spending: Why Random Acts of Kindness Feel Amazing

Don’t you ever wish a random person would give you $1 million in cash?

Admit it, we all enjoy videos like those of ThatWasEpic or Mr. Beast where they give away expensive gifts and briefcases of cash to strangers as acts of kindness. Everybody loves it so much, that those two accounts alone have 118 million subscribers watching them be generous to others.

But why do we love those videos so much?

Well, the truth is that it restores our faith in humanity. 

While money is often quoted as the root of all problems, there is a way to turn the story around and use money more meaningfully—for the sake of others and yourself.

Instead of buying yourself a new pair of shoes, why not use the money to pay for everybody else in line at Starbucks? And if you’re on the other side of the counter, why not convert some of your expenses to acts of generosity for your customers? 

All of us have a role in creating the habit of purpose-driven spending—as a person and as a business. This kind of spending is the opposite of buyer’s remorse, where you spend meaningfully instead of haphazardly, for buyers’ delight.

Let’s talk about how giving without expecting anything in return multiplies happiness.

5 Ways Random Acts of Generosity Boosts Yourself & Others

Just like receiving kindness is unquantifiable, the joy of giving kindness is also difficult to explain. Nevertheless, we know it feels good to give—and who doesn’t want to feel good about themselves? Still, we’ll try to explain it, so you know what you’re getting into.

Here are 6 science-backed benefits of kindness to explain why it’s worth sharing positivity with the people around you.

It’s proven that being generous increases:

1. Your Love Hormone. Receiving acts of kindness produces oxytocin, the “love hormone,” that lowers blood pressure and improves heart health. It also boosts your self-esteem and optimism, which are life-changing when you’re anxious or depressed.
2. Your Energy. You’ll feel stronger and more energetic after helping other people. You may also feel calmed and less stressed, with stronger feelings of self-worth. In short, you’ll feel more purposeful when you see your service mean something to others.
3. Your Happiness. Research from Harvard Business School that studied people from 136 countries reported that those who were more generous (e.g., via charitable and financial donations) were the happiest worldwide.
4. Your Lifespan. Author Christine Carter said that people who volunteer experience fewer aches and pains, protect their health twice as much as aspirin does against heart disease, and have a 44% lower likelihood of dying early. 
5. Your Pleasure. According to Emory University‘s research, you’ll get a “helper’s high” from being kind to another person, where your brain’s pleasure and reward center lights up as if you were the recipient of the good deed yourself.
6. Your Serotonin. Similar to most medical antidepressants, generosity stimulates your production of serotonin, which is known as the feel-good chemical that heals, calms, and makes you happy. Talya Steinberg, Psy.D for Psychology Today confirms it!

Random acts of kindness and generosity change the world for the better, one simple act at a time. Doing it is also a win-win solution, where you’ll feel great about yourself and encourage others to do the same.

9 Ways to Make Giving a Fulfilling Habit

It doesn’t matter if it’s the Christmas season or not, giving gifts to others warms your heart, makes you feel fulfilled, and spreads positivity around you. Not sure how to start? Here are 9 ideas to get your gears turning:

1. Pay for the order of the person behind you in line. You’ll never know what they’re going through in life—a little sign of good luck will do everyone well.
2. Leave a big tip for your server. People in the service industry rarely get the recognition they deserve with how hard they work to please others.
3. Give a stranger a compliment (without being creepy, of course!). We’ve all had those days where we feel less-than-awesome, but a random compliment always makes a difference.
4. Send a thank-you note to somebody who impacted your life. Not only will you be reminded of the good you’ve received, but you’ll also encourage the person to continue their good deeds.
5. Volunteer your time at a local soup kitchen, public school, or animal shelter. Giving doesn’t always have to be monetary; it can also be through your time and effort. 
6. Donate blood regularly. Blood is something our bodies replenish naturally. But for those who physically can’t, it’s a matter of life and death to find the blood they need.
7. Give unwanted clothes and toys to charity. As they say, other people’s trash may be another person’s treasure. You’re done enjoying those things, give them to others to be loved again!
8. Bake extra cookies to give out to neighbors and delivery guys. These simple acts of sharing can create new friendships without breaking the bank or shedding too much time.
9. Help a person with their grocery shopping. You can pay for their groceries or just help them with grabbing top-shelf items. They don’t have the income or strong legs they used to!

Giving back doesn’t have to be grand. Even the smallest acts of kindness make a huge difference. 

And once you get into the habit of kindness, you’ll witness positivity being paid forward, where one act of kindness begets another. Truth be told, it’s easy to get caught up in our own lives and problems, but when we take a step back and help others, we realize how much we have to be thankful for.

Join the Wave of Random Acts of Generosity

Acts of generosity and kindness are contagious, as we’ve seen from the examples above. When one person does something good for someone else, it makes both people happy and sets off a ripple effect of more good deeds. 

So, what can you do to get involved in this wave of positivity?

Join our effort in promoting #RAOG (random acts of generosity)! Share all the good things you’ve done for others, encourage more to do the same, and let’s spread good vibes this season.  At Mosaic, we’re firm believers that giving without expecting anything in return is important to live a fulfilling life.

To know more about #RAOG, you may visit our campaign page.

Happy holidays from our family to yours!