Very Happy Phil

Help! One of the favourite strategies I discovered several years ago to lift unhappy people out of their unhappiness is volunteering. Loads of research has now proved kindness to others boosts our health, happiness and we live longer!

I will give you an example; The Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London carried out research suggesting a "strong link" between volunteering and recovery from a variety of conditions, including depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. And it can boost happy people too. In a 1998 study life satisfaction was found to improve 24 per cent with level of altruistic activity.

The reasons volunteering boosts our happiness;
Keeps us busy
Socialize with others
Belonging
Give us a Purpose
We get an opportunity to be kind
Can be Pleasurable and fun and boost our self efficacy and ‘flow’ time

Volunteering can boost old and young people. Studies of older people with a purpose found seven in ten feel satisfied. Without a purpose seven in ten feel unsettled about their lives. Twice as many college students who enjoyed their lives and studies had a purpose, compared to those who did not.

Here are a few of my favourite quotes which inspire me;

“It’s proven that volunteering is really good for self esteem”
-Emma Kelly, Psychologist

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”
- Mother Teresa

“It is well documented that low thresholds of volunteering, even two or three hours a week, elevate mood in most people. This phenomenon was dubbed "the helper's high"”
-Stephen G. Post, Ph.D. author of ‘WHY GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE: The Exciting New Research that Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer , Healthier , Happier Life’

“Giving is good medicine.”
--Dr. Tim Johnson

"When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion."
-Abraham Lincoln

"No man can sincerely help another without helping himself."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Everyone in this world wears an imaginary button that screams out "I WANT TO FEEL IMPORTANT AND APPRECIATED!"
-Robin S. Sharma, ‘The Top 200 Secrets of Success and the Pillars of Self-Mastery’ (and author of ‘Who will cry when you die?’)

“We must feel needed. By helping others we create positive bonds with people and enhance our self image. Volunteering contributes to happiness by decreasing boredom and creating an increased sense of purpose in life. Volunteers on average are twice as likely to feel happy with themselves as non-volunteers.”
-David Niven Ph.D. ‘The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People’

“Give; Helping friends and strangers links your happiness to a wider community and is very rewarding” (Foresight) One tip from 450 of the UK’s top scientists for mental health and happiness.

Have a happy HELPING week!

Keep positive!

Phil McNally
Author & Happiness expert

Remember,
“Happy people help people! Happy people are kind”

– Phil McNally, Author & Happiness expert

PS Over thinking has been proven to impact upon performance in sport. Contact me if you are keen in boost your sport performance and learn tools to overcome ‘over thinking’.
“I’ve been using two of the techniques which I like. Golf is 99.9 percent mental.”
-Gary Forbes, PGA Professional, Murcar Golf Club

“What was really useful was having your 7 tips set out in an order that you can go through. The ones I like I use all the time and find them very very effective.”
-Ashley Pearson, National 10TT and 50TT Champion

PPS Read my post on over thinking here;
http://www.veryhappyphil.com/content/over-thinking-a-happiness-killer

© Phil McNally 2009