Why good things happen to good people

At the ARRC we follow the work of The Happiness Institute and Dr Tim Sharp. A few weeks ago the Happiness Institute Monday morning e-newsletter had this interesting article about research that shows the significant health and wellbeing benefits associated with doing good to others. This research has now been brought together in a book by Stephen Post and Jill Neimark appropriately titled “Why good things happen to good people”. Here are a few key points:

• When we give of ourselves, especially if we start young, everything from life satisfaction to self-realisation and physical health is significantly affected
• People who give have significantly better physical and mental health
• Older people who give also live longer than those who don’t
• Helping others has been shown to bring health benefits to those with chronic illness
• People who give, even in small ways, are happier

I believe that those of working in NRM give of ourselves all the time and that is one of the reasons we have so many positive, committed people sharing their knowledge and experiences with others, and feeling good about it!  Other ways to give are to….

• Give – financially (there are numerous great charities who can always do with a few more dollars)
• Give – experientially (helping out somewhere may be even more beneficial than just donating money)
• Give – of your wisdom (mentoring others can provide benefits to all involved)
• Give – time (to and with your loved ones and/or to and with those in need)

For more on ‘happiness’ and creating the conditions for you to thrive, The Happiness Institute website is a great place to look at resources and learn what others are doing.  This video is a good one for looking at what we can give for free…

Siwan

C.H.O.O.S.E. Happiness

Last week I attended a three day positive psychology course run by Dr Timothy Sharp from The Happiness Institute.  Now before you think I am going all ‘touchy and feely’ I want to reassure you that positive psychology is an academic discipline that focuses on what makes people ‘happy’, rather than the traditional approach of trying to ‘fix’ people who are sad.  At the ARRC we believe people are valuable natural resources, so this course was a great way for me to tap back into the latest thinking on how we can create workplaces and assist individuals to feel happy in the work they do.

Over the next few months I will be developing some new training materials and ideas about how we can use Dr Sharp’s research to help, support and celebrate people working in NRM.  In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more, click here to find out about how to C.H.O.O.S.E. Happiness, go to The Happiness Institute website, and stay tuned to the ARRC for opportunities to apply these teachings in your professional and personal life.

Siwan