Do generous people sleep better?

I had the privilege of hearing Psalm 4 read aloud this week. The last verse is:

In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety

I’m reading The Paradox of Generosity: Giving we receive, grasping we lose by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson (Oxford University Press, 2014), the results of the Science of Generosity Initiative study in the US.

In a case study of an anxious and independent person, they write: “By holding on so tightly to what he has and neglecting the concerns of all but immediate family, he creates an isolated, private world that he alone must sustain without help or support. Such a task, it turns out, makes for a grueling and tiring way to live.” (p. 177)

Does this sound familiar? I think the pandemic increases our anxious isolation. Gratitude and generosity help us look beyond ourselves. What has God given me? How can I share? The authors are quick to point out that generosity is not a panacea; generous people can still suffer from anxiety and depression. But they are resilient.

“Still, our evidence suggest that when people recurrently step outside of themselves to see life’s bigger picture, as part of their practice of generosity, it is beneficial to mental well-being. Cultivating generous practices and attitudes helps people avoid self-absorption and downward mental and emotional spirals.” (p. 199)

Generosity demonstrates our trust in God. And that seems in line with the Psalmist’s words:

In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety