The value of giving

‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’, is a quote by Winston Churchill that we aim to go for at School Beyond Limitations.

Is it true that giving makes us feel happier, more excited and more valued? Lots of empirical studies seem to emphasise this aspect. Indeed, we all feel that, when we give consciously away something to somebody else, we feel better; we experience a sense of meaning as it shows us that we, as single individuals, seem to be able to make a difference in somebody else’s life.

Helping someone has been proven to help also raise a person’s self-esteem and the esteem in the eyes of third-parties, making them more likely to cooperate at some future time.

When talking to our students, experiencing their engagement during regular classes, club offerings beyond the regular school time, their willingness to take on leadership roles and so much more, one can perceive how much this deep willingness of giving has penetrated our students’ hearts. They are engaged in various projects and constantly thinking about how best they can put their energies together in order to make their ideas work.

Students engaging in business studies, the universe, the creation of new websites, journaling, visualising, first aid and so much more spread a spirit of caring, contributing, sharing, and showing that – by giving – we receive and we make this world a better place.

We regularly experience SBL’s students’ enthusiasm and their strong desire to give away in order to create beyond limitations. It is extra-ordinary to see that this giving mood has a strong impact on the personal attitude of each single individual. An attitude of generosity and of realising that we, indeed, can – individually and as a community – have an impact on other people’s lives. This helps us understand that we all are responsible for what is happening around us. As Winston Churchill puts it, it feels that we ‘make a life by what we give’.

Giving is generally proven to be a very positive experience. As a giving human being we feel part of a community of like-minded individuals. One can gain a deep satisfaction – social scientists call it ‘a warm glow’ – by giving and helping oneself and others and genuinely making a positive impact on the world.

We will continue to celebrate the giving mood within the SBL community and beyond.