You took the bubble bath. You slept in. You kept the gratitude journal. You drew the boundary. 

You took all of the steps you thought you needed to take to emerge from the fog, and for the most part, you did emerge…covered in bubbles.

But if you sense there is still a piece of the puzzle missing, you’re right. 

When we begin to thrive as individuals, there is an innate desire to play a role in the thriving of the collective.

When we're well taken care of, we’re able to care for those around us.

When we’re grounded, we’re free to move in the world in a new way.

You shook the self-care puzzle box and there were no more boundaries to draw with your mom, so what is the next step? Connection with the collective through generosity.

Generosity is the next step in self-care.

People are generous, they just don’t always know how to be. And if generosity is a part of being human, you’ll feel it when it’s missing.

Not sure where to start? Here are three ways to incorporate generosity into your life.

Be generous with your time.

Volunteering for a local nonprofit is one of the most generous ways that you can spend your time, like tutoring underprivileged children or raking leaves for your elderly neighbor.

Be generous with your money.

When you and your family have enough, you’re able to contribute to local nonprofits so that every family has enough. And when your giving is fueled by empathy, you’ll have a sense of connection and your vital role in the community as a whole.

Be generous with your influence.

In a digital world, for better or for worse, we all have a footprint of influence. Spreading awareness is as easy as posting on social media, and when a volunteer or donation opportunity surfaces, even if you can’t help, someone else probably can, so go ahead and share it.

Generosity is one of the sincerest forms of connection, showing you are invested in the betterment and care of those around you.

Rest assured that every boundary and bubble bath has led you to this point—to embrace generosity as the next step in self-care.

Browse our story feed to discover local nonprofits where you can be generous with your time, money and influence.