The Nature of Giving 

Have you ever heard of the World Giving Index? It started shortly after the financial collapse of 2008 and measures the nature of giving worldwide. It asks people these three questions: 

 Have you done any of the following in the past month?

• Helped a stranger or someone you didn’t know who needed help?
• Donated money to a charity?
• Volunteered your time to an organization?

In 2022, the most generous nation was Indonesia. Kenya landed the number two spot, with the U.S. coming in third. 

The Benefits of Being Generous 

Although the idea of altruism has been mired in debate since Socrates’ time (do we do it because we are inherently good or because we are intrinsically self-serving?) — we can probably all agree — regardless of why we choose to be generous, it’s a net positive to our lives.  

Being generous improves our emotional well-being, connects us to others, can cloak us in humility, and, quite honestly, it usually feels great! Volunteering can shift a person out of depression. Donating to charities can help causes that align with our values. Offering a hand to a stranger shows them (and anyone else who views the act) that there is still plenty of goodness in the world. 

The Success/Generosity Connection 

I don’t think there is a coincidence that some of the most successful people I know are also some of the most generous. They likely learned in their journey to financial freedom that money alone didn’t make them happy, but sharing their blessings left them feeling fulfilled. 

Beyond that, their generosity likely kept propelling their success. We want to get behind, team with, and invest in people we like and admire. Who do we usually like and admire more — Scrooges or generous-hearted benefactors? 

Anyone can be Generous 

The great news is regardless of where you are on your path to financial freedom, being generous is available to anyone at any time. It can be as small as putting that cart back so as not to scratch a person’s car; offering to pick up a few things for a neighbor; tutoring your niece on her math homework. 

If you are looking for a place to donate to — a charity dear to my heart is the Castenada Kids Foundation. The organization provides medical and educational aid to those in El Salvador. 

So, though we, as individuals, may not be that philanthropist who contributes life-changing amounts to people or organizations (yet!), we can all start precisely where we are. Not only will the world be a better place, we’ll be better off, too.