6 ways true happiness in life comes from helping others

We all strive for happiness, but sometimes the path to true joy is less about what we can acquire and more about what we can give.

You might look back on your life and wonder why certain moments of success or accomplishment didn’t bring the lasting satisfaction you expected. Or maybe you’ve been chasing personal goals relentlessly, only to find that the finish line keeps moving further away.

How do you know if what you’re seeking is genuine happiness, or just a temporary high derived from fleeting achievements?

Drawing from life experiences, personal reflections and the wisdom of those who have found fulfillment in giving, I’ve compiled a list of six ways true happiness in life comes from helping others.

If these concepts resonate with you, it might be time to reassess your pursuit of happiness.

My hope is that through this exploration, we can all discover a deeper, more enduring sense of joy and contentment.

1) Cultivating empathy

In the pursuit of our own happiness, we often forget a fundamental truth: we are all interconnected. Our joy and suffering are not isolated events, but rather ripple out, affecting those around us in profound ways.

When we help others, we open ourselves up to their experiences, their hopes, their fears. This isn’t always comfortable – in fact, it can often be deeply challenging. But it’s through these moments of shared vulnerability that we cultivate empathy.

Empathy is more than just understanding someone else’s perspective; it’s feeling what they feel, walking in their shoes. It allows us to move beyond the confines of our own lives and connect with the larger human experience. This connection, this shared humanity, is a powerful source of happiness.

Helping others gives us an opportunity to grow our capacity for empathy, to deeply connect with others, and in doing so, find a sense of fulfillment and joy that transcends fleeting moments of personal achievement.

It’s not always easy, but it’s a journey worth taking for those seeking true happiness. Empathy is the gateway to a richer human experience.

And speaking of richer experiences…

2) Fostering gratitude

In our daily rush to get things done, to achieve our goals, we often overlook the many blessings in our lives. We become so focused on what we want that we forget to appreciate what we already have.

When we help others, especially those less fortunate than us, it puts our own circumstances into perspective. We begin to realize the multitude of things we often take for granted – a roof over our heads, food on our tables, good health, loving family and friends.

This recognition fosters gratitude. And gratitude, research has shown, is strongly associated with greater happiness. It improves our health, helps us deal with adversity, and builds strong relationships.

Helping others isn’t just about making their lives better. It’s also about appreciating the good in our own lives. It’s about realizing that even though we may not have everything we want, we are immensely rich in so many other ways. This shift in perspective nurtures a deep and lasting sense of joy.

And as gratitude fills our hearts, we see the world differently. We see that we might not have everything, but we have so much. Yet finding joy isn’t just about realizing what you have…

3) Discovering purpose

In my younger years, I found myself chasing what society typically defines as success. I pursued high grades in school, then a well-paying job, and later, a house and a nice car. However, despite achieving these goals, I often felt a nagging sense of emptiness, like something was missing.

I began to volunteer at a local shelter on weekends. Initially, it was just something to fill my free time. But as I spent more hours helping those in need, I noticed a shift in my perspective. It was in these moments of service that I felt the most alive, the most connected.

Helping others made me realize that the missing piece wasn’t another achievement to add to my list but a sense of purpose. It was about making a difference, no matter how small, in someone else’s life.

Finding our purpose often involves looking beyond our own needs and desires. When we help others and witness the positive impact we can make, it not only brings immediate happiness but also gives us a deep sense of fulfillment and meaning. This discovery of purpose can be the foundation for a truly happy life.

Doing something meaningful for someone else gives life a whole new dimension.

But the effects of helping aren’t just intangible. There’s a real, physical joy to it…

4) Boosting our mood

It might seem counterintuitive, but the act of giving can often feel as good, if not better, than receiving. This isn’t just a lofty ideal, but a physiological truth.

When we help others, our brains release endorphins, the body’s natural ‘feel-good’ chemicals. This is often referred to as the ‘helper’s high’. Similar to the feeling we get after a good workout, helping others induces a sense of euphoria followed by a period of calm and serenity.

This chemical change in our bodies is not just temporary. Research suggests that regularly helping others can lead to lower levels of stress hormones and could even increase our life span.

By choosing to help others, we’re not just improving their lives, but also actively boosting our own mood and overall well-being. The path to true happiness might just be found in the simple act of extending a helping hand.

And as our mood lifts, so does our ability to connect with others…

5) Building stronger relationships

When I moved to a new city for work some years ago, I found myself feeling lonely and disconnected. I had left behind a close-knit community of friends and family, and establishing new relationships felt challenging.

In an attempt to combat my loneliness, I began volunteering at a community center. It was there that I met Anna, an elderly woman who attended the center’s weekly art classes. Despite our age difference, we had a lot in common and quickly bonded over our shared love of painting.

Through helping Anna with her art projects and spending time with her, not only did my loneliness subside, but a deep friendship blossomed. It was a stark reminder that helping others often leads to stronger social bonds.

When we help others, we share experiences, understand different perspectives and cultivate empathy. These shared experiences can form the base of strong, meaningful relationships. In a world where connections often feel superficial, helping others offers a route to build genuine bonds, enriching our lives with the joy of companionship.

These deep ties not only enrich our individual lives, but they pave the way for a greater sense of community involvement…

6) Promoting a sense of belonging

We all yearn to feel part of something greater than ourselves, to feel connected and integral in our communities. This sense of belonging is a fundamental human need, as vital to our well-being as food and shelter.

In my own life, I’ve found that one of the most powerful ways to cultivate this sense of belonging is through service to others. Whether it’s participating in a neighborhood clean-up, mentoring a young student, or supporting a local charity, the act of contributing to the welfare of our community instills in us a deep sense of connection.

Through helping others, we not only improve our communities and make them better places to live, but we also affirm our place within them. The joy that stems from this feeling of being connected and valued is profound and enduring.

Conclusion

In essence, when we reach out to help others, we are also helping ourselves.

We are nurturing our own happiness by cultivating empathy, fostering gratitude, discovering purpose, boosting our mood, building stronger relationships, and promoting a sense of belonging.

The path to true happiness lies not in seeking it for ourselves but in creating it for others.

Pearl Nash

Pearl Nash has years of experience writing relationship articles for single females looking for love. After being single for years with no hope of meeting Mr. Right, she finally managed to get married to the love of her life. Now that she’s settled down and happier than she’s ever been in her life, she's passionate about sharing all the wisdom she's learned over the journey. Pearl is also an accredited astrologer and publishes Hack Spirit's daily horoscope.

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