Helping Stimulates Happiness
I thought I would provide a little bit of research about helping and how it promotes happiness this week, and thus, found the following research that I want to share with you all.
A psychologist, Michael Steger, wanted to know which behaviors make people happier: seeking pleasure or doing good.
To find the answer to Steger’s, he asked 65 undergraduate students to complete a survey online every day for 3 weeks. The students were asked how much purpose their lives had each day and whether they felt sad or happy. Students were asked to reveal how many times a day they engaged in pleasure-seeking behaviors versus meaningful activities such as helping others, listening to others’ problems, or pursuing their life goals.
The results of the research indicated that the students who participated in meaningful activities over pleasure-seeking behaviors were happier. In fact, it was found that pleasure-seeking behaviors did NOT make people happier. The research suggests that helping makes us “Happy Campers”.
I have to say that I would much prefer being a “Happy Camper”, and thus, it behooves us to help in an effort to promote our own happiness.
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