The Peace and Joy Found In Helping Others
This is a time to make resolutions for the New Year. For many people, those resolutions will revolve around things they want for themselves and less about helping others.
That’s only natural. After all, we all dream at times of having a flashier car, a nicer house and more money.
But is that where true happiness is found? According to wise people throughout the ages – and modern scientific research – the answer is definitely “no.”
Happy Helping Others
Those who provide care for others face considerable challenges every day. But they also know the inner peace and joy that can come with helping others.
Studies have shown that even simply volunteering can change a person’s health and outlook. A United Health Group study stated that “We now know people who volunteer feel better — physically, mentally and emotionally better. And our volunteers tell us that they are convinced their health is better because of the things they do when they volunteer.”
Quotes On Giving and Peace
Science is merely backing up what many have known for hundreds of years. Helping others not only benefits them, but also offers the giver inner peace.
There are many quotes about the peace and happiness found in giving to others through the ages. Here are a few.
- “For it is in giving that we receive.” – Saint Francis of Assisi
- “The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.”- Leo Tolstoy
- “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”- Winston Churchill
- “Making money is a happiness; making other people happy is a super happiness.” – Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus
- “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Finding Peace
One of the great issues of our times is the lack of inner peace. The ability to constantly communicate with others and the bombardment of information we all receive has driven many to seek answers to why they still feel no peace.
Psychologists say many of their clients come to them attempting to find relief from the stress of day-to-day life. One recently wrote that stillness and being in nature remain two of the best ways to achieve peace in the world.
Helping others can help a person achieve peace, as well. Of course, caregivers also must be mindful of taking care of themselves during the often-challenging times they face.
As we move into the New Year, it’s important that caregivers find respite in a community such as the one at Hope Grows. Giving is one of life’s most beautiful gestures. It can give a person peace like no other action in life. But when support is needed, it’s important for caregivers to reach out for someone to give to them, as well.