>> Why We Have This Emotion
Giving without expectation deepens relationships. It build trust. Generosity activates our brain's chemical reward systems, so acts of generosity tend to make the giver feel great, too.
◎ What to do in the moment
Good Ideas
- Give without attaching a receipt to it
- Give to others in multiple ways
- Extend it toward yourself too
- Notice when generosity feels good versus obligatory
- Set limits so generosity doesn't become depletion
Bad Ideas
- Use it to manage how others see you
- Repeatedly say, "oh, it's nothing"
- Give until resentment builds
- Weaponize it: 'After all I've done!?'
- Mistake others' generosity for wealth
- Keep a mental ledger while claiming to give freely