April is National Volunteer Month, which makes me think about the reciprocal nature of giving. It's something we all know, but we forget. Instinctively, we hoard our time and attention, keeping it small and tight, instead of spreading it wide and letting it multiply and expand. Often, we fail to recall that giving inspires more giving. The Rewire Me article, “A Time For Giving” provides both scientific and anecdotal evidence for the idea that generosity is contagious.

The resource of giving is self-replenishing, when offered from the heart. Think about how that works in your daily life. When you grit your teeth and give in stingy increments, it feels uncomfortable and resentment builds. On the other hand, when you realize that you want to give and what you give feels good, you’re willing to give more.

Employees know that feeling. When a supervisor is generous with praise and willing to give credit when it’s due, the employee works harder. The employee becomes more eager to give that extra bit of effort to make a job turn out right. In turn, the supervisor sees even more good work to praise. It’s an upward loop.

Volunteering is an excellent example of the true nature of giving. Giving occurs with no expectation that any equal return will come back. Funny enough, there’s always a return—often an even greater one—when you give from your heart, which is what a volunteer does. You take pleasure in seeing the joy on the recipient’s face or the sight of a mistreated animal finally being adopted and loved. There is a satisfaction in knowing something good happened in the world, and you have been a part of it.

Most companies know and understand the importance of giving. They support charities, and offer opportunities for staff members to participate. Volunteer work speaks to the most upright side of our nature and creates a kind of fulfillment that can’t come from the numbers on a paycheck. This month, as we celebrate volunteer work, let’s look to the places in our own lives where more giving is possible. Volunteering will provide us the kind of benefits to inspire an endless spiral of giving.

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