living
GLOBAL HAPPINESS
by Crissy Butts Author / Speaker / Team-Buildre
Ihave discovered one of the greatest ways to increase happiness is to serve others . Other words that define service are to help , assist , labor , aid , care , comfort , rescue , minister , support and give kindness . The ripple effect is the same whether acts of service are large or small . Small acts of service are free and can be as simple as a smile to another , who then smiles at the next person , who says hello to the next .
There are three ways we can serve others 1 ) with our time , 2 ) our financial resources , or 3 ) with our energy .
An example of serving with our time includes , walking over to the next door neighbor to get to know them , visiting a friend in the hospital , writing someone a letter , calling someone who needs encouragement or taking a child or grandchild to the park . Examples of serving with our resources , include donating to a cause or charity , buying a meal for someone , supporting a local school fund-raiser . Serving with our energy may include vocalizing optimistic thoughts , uplifting others in your circle of influence with encouragement or may include praying for a person , a business , a community , or for the military leaders to have wisdom , or for world leaders to govern with peace and harmony .
What are the benefits of serving others ?
Serving others helps us feel our own self worth and we become better humans . We were not given this mortal experience to serve ourselves , but instead , to make a difference and be useful . In the process of sharing either our time , our resources , or our energy , our personal frustrations are minimized , depression is lessened , sorrow is lifted , anger is dispelled , and is replaced with a greater feeling of empathy , compassion and kindness towards others and their circumstances . Frequently the person rendering acts of service benefits as much or more than the person being served .
What are some ways we can be more effective in our service to others ?
1 . Minimize distractions of trivial things so we have a heightened awareness of things that are of greater importance .
2 . Watch for opportunities to participate in acts of service work / school / community / within your family .
3 . When you get an idea / thought / impression to serve someone , act on it quickly or put it on your “ To Do List ” before you get distracted .
In 190 BC . King Benjamin reigned as servant leader . He refused to live off his people are surround himself with the trappings of wealth and power . He labored with his own hands and served with his people for his people . He said , “ Ye have called me your king ; and if I , whom ye call your king , do labor and serve you , then ought not ye to labor and serve on another ?” Service is a way to demonstrate appreciation for our multiplicity of blessings . Who do you surround yourself with ? What do you put into your mind , your body ? What goes in must come out . If we put happy good stuff in , happy good stuff comes out in our words and our actions including giving of ourselves more freely . I ’ m thankful for the principle of SERVICE and know it is a tremendous tool to elevate global happiness !
Go forth , happiness warriors , serve others the best you can with your time , your financial resources or your positive energy and as you do so , your life will become rich and full and filled with great joy !
22 iF Magazine | February 2017