RSS Feeds: Does the act of giving bring you pleasure?
While I don't agree with the some of the ideas of evolution supported by many scientists, sometimes they draw some interesting conclusions. I read this Washington Post article, If It Feels Good to Be Good, It Might Be Only Natural, with an open mind.
This part jumped out at me:
The results were showing that when the volunteers placed the interests of others before their own, the generosity activated a primitive part of the brain that usually lights up in response to food or sex. Altruism, the experiment suggested, was not a superior moral faculty that suppresses basic selfish urges but rather was basic to the brain, hard-wired and pleasurable.
Their findings suggest that we find as much pleasure in the act of giving as we do in eating good food or having sex. Perhaps this is why, when I give something without return expectations, I feel so good about myself.
What are your opinions on this? Does it make you feel good when you give something? Does it matter whether it's a material thing, or something not quite as tangible?
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Do you read adult-oriented blogs? Does it bother you to view nudity or sex? If it does, you need to stay away from The Sanctuary. Justin (aka Sirrion) posts a lot of adult pictures on his blog. It's not all about that, though, as you would see if you followed the link. Even though sex may be his primary topic, he does talk about other things, such as politics and his personal life. I visit his blog from time to time (and of course I look at the pictures) because I enjoy his candid and honest opinions. I wish more people were as open as this guy.
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I do feel good when I give, I also do not know how too receive a gift it embarrass me too get one.
You don't ramble and I enjoy visiting you everyday.
I am not into adult (pictures), but I get pretty racy with some of my jokes.
wow thanks RT I am not sure what to say my friend.
As to giving..I very much enjoy giving to others. I do so with an open mind and heart. It is kind of like the pass it one mentality (did you ever see that movie pass it on?) I enjoy being able to give of myself, in some way, to help others. I teach my daughters to be the same way. it makes me feel good to see the smile on their faces from whatever it is I do for them. At times, some do not even know I have done something for them..even though something has been done for them. Does that make sense? I think that it very important that we pass it on in this life. We should, in my opinion, help our fellow brethren without the expectation of return.
On my site I try to push the lines, I do admit freely. It is in my view that sometimes we all take life to serious and we need to reflect and life this life in the best way we can. Not everyone will agree with what I post or what I say. But I do hope that it turns heads and leads people to think and to feel. This is the reason I come to your site pretty much every day. You have the ability to turn heads and make one think and feel. I love to stop and think of things as you view it. I admire you and think that you are a good soul.
Today I was sent an email where the sender told me I should be ashamed of calling into judgment our President and not being nice to him. I sent her a simple reply:
With all due respect ma'am can you picture what our nation would be like if no one questioned or held up to judge those that we elect to operate our nation?
I said that to come to this point. I think that when it comes to my site my drive is to go where some do not wish to go. I want to raise thoughts, feelings, and emotions that some wish to silent. While they may not be in majority a majority of the time they are equally important to the thoughts, feelings, and emotions, of those that do not agree with me.
RT you're a good man. Your family is very blessed and I am blessed to have someone like you that I can learn from and take lesson from.
Wow, thanks Justin! That was probably one of the longest comments on a blog post I have ever read. :-)
LOL..yea I guess it was kind of big wasn't it. I got on a roll and clearly forgot it was a . comment ;-)
I've always said I give because I am selfish. That is: I enjoy the feeling I get by giving. I loved Christmas as a child, but I loved it much more when I had my own children to give to.
However, like Dick above, I find receiving rather embarrassing. I wonder how common this phenomenon is.
I think it's more common than people will admit. I haven't celebrated my birthday (other than drinking or something) for years. Father's Day. Ptooey! I always ignored it.
I don't know if embarrassing is the right word, but I certainly feel uncomfortable about it.
It's a very common. And some one is getting embarrassed to the core. . but it's can't get the gift from our close ones. .