Generosity

 Think about it: do you know someone who is always sacrificing their needs for others?  And that made you wish that you were just like them?  Research shows that people who are always sacrificing and not caring about themselves become anxious and depressed.  Selfless students also see their grades suffer, as they are so busy helping everyone else that their own grades falter. 

I am not saying that we should not be generous to others.  However, we have to be generous to others while taking care of ourselves.  It is not about dropping everything all the time for others but helping others to help develop a culture of giving.  It is both prioritizing your needs along with the recipient’s.

   

What might seem counterintuitive is that being less selfless allows you to give more.  By taking care of yourself, you do not let others drain your energy; instead, you continue to be motivated to help others. 

If you do know someone who is always sacrificing for others, you might want to have a talk with them.  While people appreciate their generosity, giving all the time is not sustainable.  Take the time to explain to them that if they take care of themselves, they can better take care of others. 

The challenge now is to not only be kind to others, but also to be kind to yourself.