Be useful and be happy by contributing to the happiness of others
Seeking happiness is so universal, it is only just natural that there are so many theories about it. With some of them being non-scientific and, often, even conflicting, we decided to do a little research of our own to find out what really makes us happy. It turns out to be pretty straightforward — read on to discover!
It turns out; the answer is pretty simple. Happiness lies in being useful. Yup, you read that right — it is not about status or job or things or extraordinary experiences. It is much more about doing something that will make you feel useful.
And it doesn’t have to be anything significant — as appealing as saving the world sounds, in reality, every little something helps. It might be sharing a tip with a younger colleague. Making a beautiful album for your better half. Helping someone carry that extra heavy bag up the stairs.
Living in a capitalist world, we often forget that. We are encouraged to get better grades, then — a great job, so we could go on fancy vacations and buy a new house, a new car, a new computer, a new smartphone, a new TV, and maybe also a boat. It feels natural to justify because you’ve worked so hard, and you feel you deserve it. However, none of the above will bring us happiness unless we get to share it with someone. And that helps us understand that in our hearts, we enjoy sharing much more than buying.
To understand the concept better, we could turn to Eastern cultures. A Japanese writer Durian Sukegawa, the author of Sweet Bean Paste, used to host a late-night radio show when he was younger. His favorite thing to do was to ask the listeners what the purpose of life was. And they all had the same answer: to be useful members of society. Usefulness, however, can be tough to measure — unless you are a doctor, philanthropist, or inventor, you will probably feel like not being enough at some point. However, it is crucial to remember that it is not the size of the act that matters, so we should strive and appreciate the little things, as cheesy as that sounds. Made someone laugh? Helped a pupil choose a university? Shared your way to becoming a C-level executive with an intern, thus inspiring them to work hard and focus on the right thing? All of it counts, so do your best to memorize these things, and, if possible, do more of that. It will help you account for yourself and, as a result, feel happier.
Then again, we do live in a capitalist world. As much as we like to spend our time being useful to others, we need to earn money to pay for that roof over our heads. And yet, when was the last time you took an hour to share your insights with someone you don’t know? We believe it makes perfect sense to get compensated for your knowledge. We also believe that the satisfaction of helping others is invaluable.
Wish to try that in practice? You’re in the right place, then: Qoorio is launching a Freemium model, and we invite you to give it a go. If you’re not familiar with the platform just yet, here is a little intro: it is a place for you to meet like-minded people to exchange your skills and knowledge. It can be any field you feel passionate about, and it is up to you whether you will be sharing your knowledge with someone else, soaking in the experience of others, or both. So, why don’t you try to dedicate some of your time to someone you haven’t met before? We are quite confident that you will enjoy the feeling of helping someone. And there is no need to put a price tag on your time or form a long-term commitment — you only go for it if you feel like it.
And when we said free of charge, we didn’t mean that you aren’t getting anything out of it. You will be. First, there will be the satisfaction of doing a good deed. Let’s call it instant gratification. But there will be a long-term one, too: by giving your knowledge back to the society, you are investing in it. When sharing your insights with young people, who are here to create something, you help to create a more prosperous society. And that successful, happy society will eventually give it back to you, too.
It would be nice to keep that loop of sharing continuous. Not only nice but beneficial, too — researchers at Harvard, who have been studying people to find out the secret of a happy and healthy life, have found that it is the relationships that keep us the happiest and help us live the longest lives. And of course, first come our spouses, family, and closest friends. But any interactions help. The same research, which went over for nearly 80 years, showed that loneliness is as much of a killer as smoking and alcoholism are. The social support we are able to receive — through family, friends, and acquaintances — protects us from mental deterioration over time. It is essential to point out that the most important quality of relationships is trust. It doesn’t really matter if you have heated arguments or experience bumps on the road — these things can be easily forgotten, so long you know that, whenever the need arises, you have someone to count on. And the sooner you begin fostering those relationships, the better it is for your longevity. So, don’t turn down that offer to get coffee sometime — you never know how it might evolve, and you surely don’t want to waste any time. On the other hand, it is never too late to start — the same research has shown that our personalities aren’t set. Thus, even if you did consider yourself as a naturally reserved person, maybe it’s time to rethink that perception and start being more open, useful, and, most importantly, happier.
So, are you ready to embrace sharing your experience and fostering new relationships? Qoorio community of like-minded people is a great place to begin. All you need to do is sign up and go for one meeting — and we’re sure you’ll love it more than you could’ve anticipated.
