Achieving personal happiness and comfort in 2020
Helping others
Helping others is the key to unlocking your happiness. Ancient sayings and quotes from historical figures have always spoken of the same thing. In the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, there is a phrase which recommends giving as a way of receiving even more. But, is there truth in it? The answers is a total yes, scientific research carried out over the years suggests that offering help to others has the power of giving you a happy life.
Giving can be tricky, even though it can grant you happiness. If it doesn’t seem like you are gaining anything in return, you are likely to do away with such a cause. You don’t have to give up yet because it is the right path, considering the compelling evidence gathered by researchers of the subject. This article is going to explore the best ways in which you can prioritize helping others while in pursuit of your happiness.
Being friendly
Frank Delaney, in his novel, wrote that “the difference between a friend and an enemy is friendliness.” Being friendly comes with a lot of questions since people expect you to need a favour in exchange. Whether it involves a friend or a random individual, any act of friendliness can improve someone’s day and make them more productive. Smiling is the most popular way of upholding amiability, but it is not the only option.
You can also start conversations and acknowledge the people you meet. They get to feel included and thus have the positive mindset that someone is looking out for them. Be genuine in your feelings and make sure that your body language speaks similarly. Invite people to fun activities without discrimination so that no one can feel abandoned. All these deeds are necessary for helping others to succeed in their daily lives.
Making donations
Donations don’t only involve vast sums of money. The items that you no longer use are also significant. Donating to charity supports the people living in poverty, allowing them to be joyful at least once in a while. It also has several personal benefits, including the fact that it adds a ton of happiness to your life.
One notable example of why donations are necessary is the work of Mother Teresa. In 1950, she came up with the Missionaries of Charity religious congregation that comprises over 4500 religious sisters who devote their lives to give. Consequently, Mother Teresa earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her contribution to humanity.
Volunteering
According to Horace Mann, doing nothing for others is our undoing. Volunteering is beneficial in helping other people grow. It is not necessarily because they can’t do it themselves, but to put a smile on them. Focusing your energy on benefitting others for free appears as impossible since most people lead busy lives.
However, a voluntary act doesn’t have to take up much of your time and efforts. Volunteering at work, for instance, makes it possible for a potentially tired or sick employee to take a break. You can also try volunteering at hospitals to save a life, especially if the particular health facilities have shortages of medical personnel. Other places like nursing homes, churches and events are excellent choices if you are looking to participate in some tasks without pay.
Alternative giving
This form of gift-giving involves a donation of a particular gift to charity instead of the recipient having it. Benjamin Franklin is well-known for using the alternative giving technique, which later became the expression, “pay it forward.” It serves to provide someone with something by paying another party. If you want some pay it forward ideas, think of all the beautiful things you can do for people around you. You can buy coffee for the customer behind you, write a positive review for a small local business or leave an encouraging note at some spot.
Charity organizations promote the practice of alternative giving using wedding favours. Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, exercised this concept with their monetary wedding gifts, resulting in lots of charities benefitting greatly. The couple encouraged their guests to gift them using money so that it could be used for good causes.
Advice someone about something
Sometimes all that an individual needs to have their heart filled with joy is a recommendation or some assurance about whatever they want to do. When you identify someone going through a tough time, find out the reason behind their sorrow to determine ways in which you can help them. Bad times come and go, but it is essential to guide someone so that they can overcome their difficulty much faster.
During the process of advising, be honest in what you say to someone to increase the chances of someone following your advice. Avoid judging the victim despite the wickedness of their past actions. Provide long-term assistance to the individual to ensure that you support them as much as you can. Be sure to admit that you can’t assist them if you don’t know how to do so. In case you can’t be helpful, recommend a professional or some motivational materials to the person.
Teach a skill you know
Skills are the most viable tools for living. Malala Yousafzvai suggested that one child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. There are considerable odds that you might be the teacher that someone never had. If you are good at anything, give lessons to anyone who is struggling with it.
When it comes to teaching, you can do it for free or give sweet discounts once in a while to help the student master a new skill at the cost of almost nothing. The quality of your lessons should be the same in both the paid and unpaid case. Such generosity enables the learner to aid their community and also rewards you with everlasting happiness.
Sponsor a talent or project
If you are able enough, you can sponsor a community-based program or an individual’s project. Search for people who have innovative ideas but cannot implement them due to lack of funds. You can find lots of projects over the Internet or locally in your area. Make sure that you understand a particular project and its resourcefulness before signing up to sponsor it.
When doing an online search for exciting ideas that need sponsorship, be sure to look out for scammers because your money can end up in the wrong hands. You can also partner with other sponsors or brands to make partial contributions. More celebrities continue to offer sponsorships, including Derrick Rose who went ahead to share a tweet about his scholarship program. The basketball player has received acclaim for his acts of kindness.
Helping others helps yourself because it improves your mental and physical health. Such a state of wellbeing generates happiness for you. The more you lend a hand to others, the happier you become. You don’t need to be rich to pull any kind of generous acts. You also don’t need a high degree of proficiency. All you require is a good heart and an open mind which can back you up in making it achievable.