“We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”
-Winston Churchill
We are taught early on that it is better to give than to receive. YMSL members know that it feels good to help others, so it may not be a surprise that researchers are finding that serving others stimulates reward areas in the brain, creating positive feelings and increasing happiness.
In one of many studies showing a link between service and happiness, researchers at the London School of Economics found that the more people volunteered, the happier they were. Compared with people who never volunteered, the odds of being “very happy” rose 7% among those who volunteered monthly, 12% for people who volunteered every two to four weeks, and 16% for weekly volunteers.
Many studies seem to indicate that benefits associated with volunteering continue to increase with time spent volunteering up to about 100 hours a year (or 2 hours a week) and then seem to level out at that point. Consistency is also important - the more regularly you serve, the greater the psychological benefits.
Much research has focused on the benefits of volunteering for older and retired persons, including stronger social ties and better health, but there is also growing evidence that volunteering has great benefits for youth. According to research findings by Jane Allyn Piliavin, a retired University of Wisconsin sociologist, teenage volunteering is associated with a positive effect on grades, self-concept, and attitudes toward education; and huge declines in drug use, dropout rates and teen pregnancies, even for at-risk teens. According to Piliavin, other research links youth volunteering to a higher quality of life as an adult. And youth who volunteer are far more likely to become adults who volunteer.
Finally, people who feel that they don’t have enough time to volunteer may be interested in recent work published in Psychological Science that shows that giving time to others – from helping with homework to shoveling a neighbors’ driveway – actually makes people feel that they have more time, not less. This finding echoes similar research that shows that people feel wealthier when they give away or spend money on others.
Who knows, maybe a study of YMSL members would find greater levels of happiness among our ranks, but we don’t need a study to prove what we already know – being of service to others not only does good – it feels good.
“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
Lin Wilder
YMSL Fort Collins Communication Team
