How Giving Rocks
Scenario: "Dude, we'll be happy when we finally get: ______. Yay!" And then when you get that son-of-a-!@#$%, what happens?
- Your happiness level returns to where it were before.
- "Does life suck this much?" you ask yourself.
- "That is, whatever I achieve, my happiness level will always return to normal?!" you scream.
- You betcha -- that is, if you think: _______________ will make you happy.
"So how can I be truly happy?!" Do what the richest two folks in the world do: Start giving.
What Altruism Does To You
During gift-giving season, what makes you happier?
- a) Searching, buying, giving gifts to family/friends.
- b) Receiving your gifts.
Unless you're some psychotic gold-digging bastard, your brain subconsciously felt when you received your gifts: "Good gosh mutha-!@#$%^! I was so much happier when I gave those gifts. Ahh!" Why does that happen? According to researchers:
What Makes People Seriously Happy
- [The care-and-connection part of the brain] is a very different part of the brain than is active with romantic love.
- These brain studies show this profound state of joy and delight that comes from giving to others.
- It doesn't come from any dry action -- where the act is out of duty in the narrowest sense, like writing a check for a good cause.
- It comes from working to cultivate a generous quality -- from interacting with people.
- There is the smile, the tone in the voice, the touch on the shoulder. We're talking about altruistic love.
And, the nice side-effect to giving:
You Start Living Longer, Too
According to the researchers:
Numbers of children, education, class, and work status did not affect longevity...52% of those who did not volunteer had experienced a major illness -- compared with 36% who did volunteer.
It's like your body telling you it wants to live longer because life is pretty gosh-dang-fun. So whenever you're feeling down-and-out, and you're looking for a quick-and-sustaining-happy-high:
Give something.
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12 Comments
on How Giving Rocks
Grammie
2007-03-09 06:35:36 UTC
How true! When I say I work with the elderly in nursing homes, people automatically assume it must be depressing work. That couldn't be further from the truth. There's nothing like the "reward" you get when you take the time to give a lonely old lady a hug, or listen to a elderly gentleman tell you about his days on the farm so many years ago. They have such an appreciation. You can see it in their glistening eyes and in their big smiles. It truly makes you feel worthwhile and happy. There's nothing depressing about it! Try giving some time to an elderly person you know. You'll see what I mean. Thanks for a very thoughtful article, Andrew.
ndtwc
2007-03-09 08:53:45 UTC
Grammie, darn I like spending time with elderlies too, I always think they are, you know, full of life experience and knowledge, and they can always tell things that I have never think of before, and they are good at comforting people too. Well I don't mean every elderly are that good, some of them are rude and stupid and um.. bad, but some are really wise. I can really learn a lot from them. And you know what, elderlies want more people to talk to them too. They know you are giving your time to them, they feel happy too.
And yeah, giving rocks! Even when people are asking for my help, I usually give more than just what they want. Sure only if I have enough time and resources, but I don't expect they will return some extra things to me.
Hendy Irawan
2007-03-09 21:30:38 UTC
I've been curious about this for a long time:
http://hendy.gauldong.net/2006/11/27/philanthropist-am-i/
Thanks Andrew for clearing this up using scientific basis (as usual). MUCH! :-)
The Trizle Team
2007-03-12 03:48:47 UTC
That's awesome, Grammie and ndtwc.
Thanks for sharing that!
I think the most happy people out there are those who -- like you -- live their lives for others. I believe it was Einstein who said:
"Only a life lived for others is a life worth living."
...which I (try to, anyway) live my life accordingly. It's strange, but when you're actively looking to make someone else happy, you start getting all tingly inside -- then that Eureka light comes on -- "Hey, now I'm all super happy too."
Strange how we humans work -- but it's an awesome way how we're all built.
-Andrew
The Trizle Team
2007-03-12 03:53:32 UTC
Great article, Hendy! Thanks for sharing. I'm the same way too: I'd rather use my blood, sweat, tears over my pocketbook. When you can see with your eyes how much of an impact you're having, it's awesome. It's a great feeling.
-Andrew
Mike Pallot on Search and High Performance Computing : Giving...fancy joining in?
2007-03-13 13:24:20 UTC
[...] http://www.trizle.com/how-giving-rocks/ [...]
The Trizle Team
2007-03-14 04:16:59 UTC
Very sweet article, Mike! I'm super impressed with your foundation. Wow.
Quoting Mike's Super Cup:
"So far we have raised around £200,000 for children's charities over the last few years, if you fancy 2 great fun days in September and want to give something back then please get in touch with myself through the blog or directly through the Silicon Cup website - thanks!"
http://www.thesiliconcup.com/
-Andrew
Mike P
2007-03-14 04:52:45 UTC
Thanks for the kind words - appreciate it!
Cheers
Mike
Mike P
2007-03-14 04:53:26 UTC
sorry wrong email address, corrected now :-)
Bank Mandiri, Grow Up Please! - Hendy Irawan
2007-08-08 10:25:49 UTC
[...] Why? Because Giving Rocks! “So how can I be truly happy?!” [...]
Info Bank Mandiri » Bank Mandiri Grow Up please
2008-02-13 09:29:25 UTC
[...] Why? Because Giving Rocks! “So how can I be truly happy?!” [...]
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