Helping others - and tracking it - can make you happier

I was thumbing through the October issue of Prevention magazine the other day and I came across an item that advised writing down all the nice things you do each day and then reviewing the list that evening.  “According to researchers, you can become happier and more grateful by paying attention to how nice you are.”

The next time you leave a generous tip, write it down!

When you hold the elevator door open for someone who’s not quite there, put it on your list!

When you bag your groceries for the overwhelmed cashier, add it to your tally.

Even these small acts of kindness can make your mood soar.

It’s all about people helping people. Right?

When I worked for an automotive company years ago, a colleague and I founded a parenting network for employees struggling to balance their work and home life.  By the time I left the company, our membership was in the hundreds and we offered a variety of programs and services.  One of the most popular was a chat room of sorts where parents could ask advice of other parents. 

I once asked the group, for example, how to get my son to sleep in his own bedroom.  He was afraid of the monsters that lurked there at night. I received many creative ideas from moms and dads who had confronted that same issue. What worked best for me was the recommendation to use “monster spray” (aka air freshener) as part of our bedtime ritual. Amazingly, a little spritz in the closet before bedtime kept the boogie man at bay! I was so grateful for that solution and it was incredibly rewarding when I could help another parent with my own advice.

Bottom line, it feels good to help other people!

Think about what you can do.

Here’s one suggestion: go to www.myLifeship.com. It’s a new website launched by one of my best friends. She had this great idea to connect people with common life experiences and concerns. Once you register on the site, you can anonymously ask advice of others, provide your own feedback on a variety of topics, and share your life lessons. 

There are many ways to demonstrate kindness. Think about what you can do, then kick it into high gear to turbocharge your happy meter.