Finding Our Purpose (and Happiness) Through Giving
"Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give." – Eleanor Roosevelt
I’ve written before about the many benefits of giving, both for the beneficiaries and the giver. The feeling of happiness we experience when we volunteer. The sense of purpose and a connection to "something bigger" than ourselves when we contribute to a cause or help others in need. There is medical evidence that giving creates chemical changes in the brain which activate the brain's reward center, resulting in higher levels of energy and overall feeling of happiness.
I want to share another article written by Alice Walton, Forbes contributor and Biopsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience PhD, that supports these findings. The article talks about recent studies which provide more evidence that giving has real, tangible benefits to our overall health. It also contains links to other studies that have shown that living a life of purpose promotes overall well-being and happiness. The data suggests that purpose in life is associated with better memory and overall cognition as we get older. Here’s the link to the article, entitled "The Science of Giving Back". Enjoy!
