Paradox of generosity : giving we receive, grasping we lose, The
Generosity altruismi anteliaisuus hyvinvointi hyväntekeväisyys terveys uskonto (uskominen) vapaaehtoistyö
Oxford University Press
2014
EISBN 9780199394937
The paradox of giving and getting.
How generosity enhances well-being.
Generous and ungenerous America.
Understanding ungenerous Americans.
The lived experiences of generous Americans.
Generosity is paradoxical. Those who give, receive back in turn. In giving of ourselves for others' well-being, we enhance our own well-being as well. In letting go of some of what we own, we actually increase our own security and sense of comfort. By giving away our own resources, we move ourselves toward flourishing. This is not only a philosophical or religious teaching. It is a sociological fact. Drawing on data from the Science of Generosity Initiative, including a nationally representative survey of two thousand Americans and in-depth qualitative interviews with forty households, this book examines the relationship between generosity and well-being. The generosity paradox can also be stated in the negative. By clinging to what we currently have, we lose out on pleasures that we might have gained. In keeping what we possess, we diminish its long-term value to us. By always protecting ourselves against future uncertainties and misfortunes, we are formed in ways that make us more anxious and actually more vulnerable to future misfortunes. In short, if we fail to care for others, we do not properly take care of ourselves. An examination of the survey and interview data reveals not only that generous practices, or a lack thereof, shape personal growth, purpose, health, and happiness, but also how generosity is linked with well-being.
How generosity enhances well-being.
Generous and ungenerous America.
Understanding ungenerous Americans.
The lived experiences of generous Americans.
Generosity is paradoxical. Those who give, receive back in turn. In giving of ourselves for others' well-being, we enhance our own well-being as well. In letting go of some of what we own, we actually increase our own security and sense of comfort. By giving away our own resources, we move ourselves toward flourishing. This is not only a philosophical or religious teaching. It is a sociological fact. Drawing on data from the Science of Generosity Initiative, including a nationally representative survey of two thousand Americans and in-depth qualitative interviews with forty households, this book examines the relationship between generosity and well-being. The generosity paradox can also be stated in the negative. By clinging to what we currently have, we lose out on pleasures that we might have gained. In keeping what we possess, we diminish its long-term value to us. By always protecting ourselves against future uncertainties and misfortunes, we are formed in ways that make us more anxious and actually more vulnerable to future misfortunes. In short, if we fail to care for others, we do not properly take care of ourselves. An examination of the survey and interview data reveals not only that generous practices, or a lack thereof, shape personal growth, purpose, health, and happiness, but also how generosity is linked with well-being.
