Charitable giving boosts happiness and reduces stress. So why not give a meaningful gift this Valentine’s Day? “Giving makes you happy,” says Lara Aknin, an assistant professor of psychology at Simon Fraser University. Aknin has studied the link between philanthropy and well-being included measuring cortisol in the bloodstream. That study found that when people gave more, the stress hormone dissipated more quickly in their blood. “When people are spending money in a way that they’re giving to others by way of charity, we see similar emotional boosts. It’s more rewarding than spending money on yourself,” Aknin says. Elizabeth Dunn, a social psychologist with the University of British Columbia in another study says that “The effects of altruistic spending are probably akin to those of exercise…which can have immediate and long-term effects. Giving once might make a person happy for a day, but if it becomes a way of living, then it could make a lasting difference.” Read more. Donate today!