hyghhghhh
hfghhhbjgjbg
“If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”– Chinese proverb
“For it is in giving that we receive.” — Saint Francis of Assisi
vhhhvhhv
When I started researching for this blog, I thought it would be a stretch to find enough information to make this a worthwhile blog. I didn’t want this to be a “feel good” or “puff” piece, but the blog to have substance and relevance. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my preliminary research identified ample information.
jjjjjjcjjd
I’ve said my career practicing dentistry benefited many others. Since receiving my professional dental degree in 1978, I have practiced Dentistry for the last 46 years. I can truthfully say that I have helped thousands of patients.
I mention this because there are many stated benefits derived from helping others. Benefits like stress reduction and positive emotional benefits are associated with helping others.
Based on research, the fact that I have helped thousands of patients over the years should have conferred generous benefits. But this has not been the case. Why? Because I was paid when helping others.
Merely helping others does not confer benefits, and the mere fact of being paid to help others is not the primary determinant. Think of the caregiver of a sick spouse or child. The caregiver is helping and not paid. So, this should create benefits and happiness for the caregiver, correct? This is not the case in this example either.
Because the Caregiver feels obligated to provide care and support, many of the benefits associated with helping others and the happiness that helping provides evaporate!
So, I’ve already identified two situations where the benefits of helping others are muted or absent. Happiness comes from helping others in an environment where help is free and without cost. As the Bible states, “One must be a cheerful giver.”
fjjfjhjfj
Most medical practitioners provide donated time and care during their practice career. In my practice, we periodically provided community care days where citizens could receive free dental care. We also worked with a local Catholic charities group to provide free care for indigent people. Even though care was provided in the same office, the emotional benefits to patients and staff differed. At the end of these days, my staff and I went home tired but happy. These were busy days as we treated 3 to 5 times the number of patients we would see in a day and were doing something good to benefit our community without compensation. In addition to donating my time, I also absorbed the cost of staff salaries, facility overhead, supplies, and overhead expenses.
I mentioned this because in the first case, treatment was compensated while in the second, patients were treated without compensation. The treatment provided was the same, but the emotional outcome was different.
At the end of these days of free community treatment, my staff and I used to laugh about the fact that I could have been extremely busy starting the day I opened my practice if I had provided free treatment. I would have been busy but would have been unable to pay my living expenses and office overhead.
I quickly realized I needed to implement a framework to help others while providing for my basic needs if I wanted to be a “cheerful giver.”
Eventually, I volunteered as a pro bono dental provider at a local Catholic charity. It was operated by the local Catholic Church but provided help and care on a non-denominational basis.
gkjjgjjg
Let’s review some of the noted benefits derived from helping others:
*Helping releases Oxytocin– readers may not be familiar with oxytocin, which is also known as the “love hormone.” Oxytocin is called the “love hormone” because Oxytocin is released during sexual activity, bonding, and other positive social interactions. It’s also known as the “cuddle chemical.” Oxytocin release creates a sense of happiness and well-being, and it has been noted that oxytocin is released when helping others. Oxytocin may be responsible for the happy feeling someone gets after aiding another.
*Reduction in cortisol production– while increasing oxytocin release, helping others has been associated with a reduction in cortisol production. According to the Cleveland Clinic, Cortisol is a steroid hormone that your adrenal glands (the glands on top of your kidneys) make. Cortisol affects several aspects of your health and helps regulate your body’s response to stress. High or low levels of cortisol can impact your health.
*Lower risk of early death– because of the reduction in cortisol and the increased production of oxytocin, helping others has been associated with a lower risk of early death.
*Volunteering vs caregiving– as stated above, there are many benefits associated with volunteering (giving freely of yourself and time) that are not associated with caregiving. The obligation of caregiving negates most of the benefits of helping.
*Exercise, healthy nutrition, quality sleep, and helping others– most people do not list helping others among the activities needed to increase the quality of life and lifespan. But, current research indicates that helping needs to be an integral part of life to increase happiness and lifespan.
*Positive emotional response– helping others creates a positive emotional response in both the helper and the helped. Both parties benefit from the help provided. It’s not a one-way street!
*Random acts of kindness– I try to engage in random acts of kindness every day. It can be holding the door open for someone, helping with groceries, or carrying a package. You don’t have to wait for someone to call and request your assistance.
*Giving time– Time is our most precious commodity. Everyone has only so much time and spending that time to benefit. Someone else is immensely beneficial.
*Giving money– many people would rather give money than their time. Money is fungible and can be used for many things and traded for goods and services.
*The ripple effect– when you donate your time or dollars, it creates a ripple effect and encourages others to do the same.
*The butterfly effect– the concept of the butterfly effect is that even very minute actions in one place can affect changes in a different place. The example used is a butterfly flapping its wings in one area that eventually creates the conditions for weather changes in another part of the world.
fufhhhfhhf
How to Help
*Find your passion– people tend to do more of things that they love and do them more often. Finding your passion means finding things you love and want to do more often.
*Volunteer your time– I stated that time is your most precious asset. Giving your most precious asset is a true gift.
*Be proactive– don’t wait for someone to call to ask for your assistance. There are many and varied volunteer opportunities available in most communities. These organizations will willingly accept your help.
*Give freely– be a cheerful giver. The greatest happiness is derived from giving freely and cheerfully.
*Random acts of kindness– I previously stated how easy and effective random acts of kindness can be. One of the benefits of random acts of kindness is that they require no forethought or planning. They are random opportunities that present themselves regularly.
fhhfhhhfdh
Final Thoughts
*One of the prayers we recite every night when I am on retreat is the Prayer of St Francis. The Prayer of St Francis follows:
“O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.”
* Happiness comes from helping others in an environment where help is free and without cost. As the Bible states, “One must be a cheerful giver.”
*Helping in a voluntary capacity provides physical, mental, and medical benefits. Studies have indicated that helping others can decrease the risk of premature death.
*There are many different ways to volunteer using your time, talents, or money.
gklgkgkgkkkgkg
g,g,g,g,
If you’d like to be a part of a free online retirement community, join us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/399117455706255/?ref=share
g
COMMENTS