Steeping yourself in negativity has seriously terrible consequences for your mental and physical health.

The idea that helping others is part of a meaningful life has been around for thousands of years. Aristotle wrote that finding happiness and fulfillment is achieved “by loving rather than in being loved.” According to the psychologist Carol Ryff, who reviewed the writings of numerous philosophers throughout history, relationships with others are “a central feature of a positive, well-lived life.”

Why do kids need to learn to struggle?

As adults we all know the most rewarding experiences in life often involve significant struggle and sacrifice at some stage. Personally the greatest joys in my life have all come with some form of struggle…

Being married. We are very happily married, but that doesn’t mean we are always very happy with one another.

Being a parent. The most rewarding thing I have and will ever do…but where did my sleep go? (x100 for my wife)

Staying healthy. I like chocolate and since turning 30 my metabolism can’t burn 50,000 calories as easily as it used to.

Being a teacher. How do I motivate/help/manage/engage/inspire/avoid being stabbed by this student?

Without the ability to struggle life becomes very limited.

Will acts of kindness and generosity make us happier? Do heart-directed altruistic acts depend on the sincere intention behind them? When we act on behalf of other people, research shows we feel better and experience less stress.

In her article for the Greater Good Science Centre, Juliana Breines writes about three strategies to bring more kindness into your life.

One of the best ways to increase our own happiness is to do things that make other people happy. In countless studies, kindness and generosity have been linked to greater life satisfaction, stronger relationships, and better mental and physical health—generous people even live longer. 

When is the last time you did a good deed for someone in your office? How did it make you feel? How did it make them feel? It is an amazing thought to consider that just a small act of random kindness can have massive effects when it comes to human performance in the workplace.

For Psychology Today, Dr. Prince-Mitchell explains the key to happiness for children and teens.

We don’t make children happy by simply enabling them to be receivers of kindness. We increase their feelings of happiness and well-being, reduce bullying, and improve their friendships by teaching them to be givers of kindness…

Mary Ann Christie Burnside teaches us how the kindness we offer ourselves and others affects what happens in the very next moment