How To Be More Generous
Practical Tips for Practicing Generosity
Generous people are proven to be healthier, happier, and more content with life. There are many ways to practice generosity from giving your money, time, knowledge, or kindness to others. Whether you have five minutes or five hours, you can make a difference.
Here’s how.
What is generosity?
Generosity is the simple act of being kind and giving to others. Despite being an act that is done to benefit others, when you act generously it actually increases your own well-being. Research shows that generous people are physically healthier, have greater empathy, suffer from lower rates of depression, and even live longer. By being generous, and actively addressing the needs of those around us, we foster the feeling of being able to make a difference in the world.
Generosity is also known to have a ripple effect. A study published by the National Academy of Sciences found that cooperative behavior (aka generosity or kindness) ripples out up to three degrees of separation. In other words, when a person carries out an act of generosity, two more people are inspired or influenced to be generous.
There are many ways to give; how you practice generosity will depend on your life circumstances. But the more you practice generosity, the more you will transform from a person who does generous things into being a generous person.
How to become more generous
Practice gratitude
When we are thankful for and appreciative of the things we have in life, we are more likely to give freely. And since the more we give, the happier and more grateful we feel, it’s a mutually reinforcing cycle. Positive Psychology has rounded up some of the most popular gratitude exercises from journaling to gratitude prompts to writing thank you letters to meditation.
Shift from a scarcity to an abundance mindset
Sometimes we focus on what we don’t have instead of what we do have. Fear of not having enough can make us less generous. Conversely, when we feel abundant — that is, when we see the glass as half-full, believe we have what we need now, and will be provided for in the future — we are more likely to give to others.
Learn to identify the needs of others
Learning to recognize other people’s needs requires paying close attention and learning to read between the lines. This is sometimes called empathic listening. It happens when you are able to evolve from taking in another person’s literal words to understanding what is being conveyed emotionally. It also involves not making assumptions about another person’s needs based on your own preferences, but learning to recognize what they need, independent of what you would want if you were in their situation.
Accept the generosity of others
Generosity is a two-way street. Some people have an easier time giving than receiving. For example, some people may feel vulnerable, unworthy, or less independent when they accept generosity. But when you deny or brush off someone’s generosity towards you, it robs them of the joy of giving. Learning to accept generosity can also help you become more empathetic and recognize the needs of others.
Generosity is not a substitute for justice
In his book, Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World, Anand Giridharadas reminds us that “generosity is not a substitute for justice.” As we seek to become more generous people, it’s important to be aware of the limitations of generosity.
Crowdfunding, mutual aid, charity, etc., should not have to subsidize government inaction and corporate greed.
The story of a 9-year-old raising money to pay for his brother’s exorbitant medical bills is not heartwarming; it’s a sign of a failed healthcare system. Billionaires participating in the Giving Pledge — a commitment by the world’s wealthiest to give back the majority of their wealth — is not generosity; it’s a sign of failed capitalism. The only way they were able to amass that much wealth was through worker exploitation, environmental degradation, shirking social responsibilities, funding disinformation campaigns, and taking advantage of loopholes to avoid paying taxes. The world would be a much better place if wealthy people and the companies they run had treated workers fairly, protected the environment, acted in the interest of society, told the truth, and paid their fair share of taxes to begin with.
Performative generosity is not genuine generosity.
True generosity happens when you give without expecting anything in return. Performative generosity occurs when a person seeks to gain some benefit from their generosity. For example, the giver may want praise, recognition, or social media attention for their “selflessness.” It can include anything from manipulative generosity where the giver seeks to control the recipient in some way to transactional generosity where the giver seeks something in return for their “kindness.”
Increase your giving one percent at a time
Donations (aka gifts or contributions) are a gift to a nonprofit organization, benefit, or cause. They come in many forms. You can donate money, rewards points, stocks, other assets, and much more. While all types of donations are appreciated, non-monetary donations don’t always meet the exact needs of the organization you wish to support. Therefore, we often recommend donating cash. If you can afford to do so, set up recurring donations with some of your favorite organizations. Learn more in our Making the Most of Your Monetary Donations guide.
Ami Campbell, author of Radical Generosity for the Real World, recommends the following:
Figure out how much you gave away to nonprofit/social justice causes last year.
Take that number and divide it by your total income.
Multiply it by 100 to get the percent of your earnings that you donated.
Important: DO NOT JUDGE THE NUMBER. Simply write it down.
Add one. For example, if you gave 1% last year, aim for 2% this year.
She advises that “ generosity doesn't have to be dramatic, but it does have to be intentional. Plan ahead. And make small changes to your lifestyle that can make a real difference in your ability to increase your giving.” For example, borrowing books from the library instead of buying new ones, or making your morning cup of coffee instead of going to a coffee shop (unless it’s a locally and minority-owned bookstore or coffee shop, then please continue to support them!).
Other ways to show your generosity
Being generous is more than donating to causes you care about. Here are a few ideas, but the possibilities are endless.
Pay it forward
Inspire acts of kindness and create a chain reaction of generosity by responding to an act of generosity not by thanking the giver, but by completing another positive action for someone else.
Amplify good work
Use your voice or your platform to spread awareness and share the messages of your favorite advocates, activists, and organizations. Encourage your friends and family to practice generosity by letting them know which actions you are taking and inviting them to join you.
Offer kindness
Whether it’s a compliment to a friend, praise for a colleague, or a positive review of a local business, kind words go a long way. Help out your neighbors, the elderly, or people with limited mobility by offering to run errands and do chores. Spend time with people in need. Share your knowledge and expertise as a mentor.
Treat people experiencing homelessness with respect
One of the best ways to support an unhoused person is to look them in the eyes and acknowledge their presence. Reaffirm their humanity by treating them how you would want to be treated if you were in their situation. If they are asking for donations, don’t ignore them. Giving to people on the street is a personal choice. If you don’t want to give, you can politely decline and wish them well.
Give blood, platelets, and plasma
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. According to the American Red Cross, a single blood donation can save up to three lives – from people in car accidents to transplant recipients to cancer patients. Most people over the age of 16 can donate. Learn more and find a place near you to donate at RedCrossBlood.org.
Volunteer
Offering your time and talent (aka volunteering) can be a great way to support the causes you are most passionate about and give back to your community. Many nonprofits, campaigns, and social justice causes depend on volunteers to run their operations. However, not all volunteer opportunities are created equal. Learn how to identify volunteer opportunities with the highest chance of positive impact in our How To Volunteer guide.
Donate goods
Whether you want to clean out your closet, create a donation station, or organize a toy drive, donating tangible goods can be a great way to give back. But did you know donating items can sometimes do more harm than good? Learn more in our How To Donate Goods guide.
Celebrate Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is held each year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. It began in 2012 as an alternative to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday by focusing on giving instead of spending. Since then, it has grown into a global movement to unleash the power of radical generosity by inspiring millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. And not just on Giving Tuesday, but every day, because “every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give.”
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Originally published November 30, 2021.
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