Happiness Headquarters 2022 – How To Stay Happy All Year Long

Happy New Year and here’s to a great plan that will keep you happy all year long. 2021 was a tough one on so many levels. We continued through our global pandemic, countries experienced severe climate change wildfires, droughts and floods. We all went in and out of lock down, many of us had to shift how we worked or continued with our school studies. Some of us had to fight climate change extreme weather events while staying safe and socially distanced. It was a tough year, but many of us found ways to keep ourselves happy, our wellbeing nurtured, and our families safe. It has taken a lot of creativity, an acceptance of change and tons of hard work to keep our heads up high and maintain some sanity while the world changed.

What we did love about 2021 are the stories of people being kind to each other, finding ways to give to others, and finding solutions for themselves and others during these turbulent times. These are some of those stories published in Readers Digest. They are beautiful, heart felt stories that show the power that kind actions, and giving bring to ourselves and others.

Kindness Kronicles #1 – How To Stay Happy

“I wrote letters praising every nurse and trauma doctor I encountered during that time.” A fan of Scarpinato’s Italian food in Turnersville, Kates used her stimulus money to purchase 110 lunches that were delivered to the hospital on April 27. Staff from Medical-Surgical Units, ICU, Cardiopulmonary, the storeroom, as well as some physicians and residents, enjoyed the hot meal. —Nicole Pensiero

Kindness Kronicles #2 – Family Gives That Spread To Others

During COVID, there are orphans whose birthdays are not getting celebrated or they are not getting any gifts from their well-wishers. At this hard time, my wife collected birthday boxes, gifts, and birthday crowns and started calling various organizations that could accept them. She was able to connect with Kids TLC and she drove there to donate. She felt so happy doing something for them that she almost cried when she returned. I am lucky to have such a kind-hearted better half. —Manuj Singhal

Kindness Kronicles #3 – Giving Is Contagious

Two firefighters were waiting in line at a fast-food restaurant when the siren sounded on their fire truck parked outside. As they turned to leave, a couple who had just received their order handed their food to the firefighters. The couple then got back in line to reorder. Doubling down on their selfless act, the manager refused to take their money. — JoAnn Sanderson

Kindness Kronicles #4 – Acts Of Kindness With Kids

Children were playing at the recreation area when my five-year-old granddaughter motioned for a small boy to stop. She knelt down before him and retied his flopping shoelaces—she had only just learned to tie her own. No words were spoken, but after she finished, both smiled shyly, then turned to race off in different directions. —Sheela Mayes

Kindness Kronicles #5 – Giving Takes Just A Few Seconds

One evening, I left a restaurant just ahead of a woman assisting her elderly mom. I approached the curb and paused to see if my arthritic knees could climb it. To my right appeared an arm to assist. It was that of the elderly mom. My heart was so touched. —Donna Moerie

Kindness Kronicles #6 – This Teen Knows All About Kindness and Giving

Leaving a store, I returned to my car only to find that I’d locked my keys and cell phone inside. A teenager riding his bike saw me kick a tire and say a few choice words. “What’s wrong?” he asked. I explained my situation. “But even if I could call my wife,” I said, “she can’t bring me her car key, since this is our only car.” He handed me his cell phone. “Call your wife and tell her I’m coming to get her key.” “That’s seven miles round trip.” “Don’t worry about it.” An hour later, he returned with the key. I offered him some money, but he refused. “Let’s just say I needed the exercise,” he said. Then, like a cowboy in the movies, he rode off into the sunset. —Clarence W. Stephens

Why Giving Makes You Happy

Have a look at our Happiness Research and see why giving makes you happy. Research continues to show that giving to others does make you happy and the person who receives your give. That is a lot of traction out of being kind! Giving, just a simple small act of giving provides a neurological reaction that stays with you for the day. If you give every day your happiness stays and you get into the habit of giving to others. How easy and great is that!

These small gives done every day makes a world of difference in our communities and spreads happiness to others. When someone receives a give, they are then inspired to give to others. This giving chain reaction just keeps on spreading!

The Secret of The Ripple Effect of Giving

We all know that when we give to ourselves we feel great. Self care is a big topic at the moment as we find ways to recover from the pandemic. But when you give to others, there is a ripple effect of giving that spreads happiness to others, with just one give.

In 1970, Kounin studied the ripple effect in classrooms where teachers use positive reinforcement to shape group and individual behavior. Then, as more students model positive classroom behavior, this behavior ripples through the classroom and gradually becomes the norm. Positive reinforcement also serves the function of group alerting, reminding the class to focus on positive behavior (Evertson & Emmer, 2009; Kounin, 1970). In 1988, Dr Kenneth McLeroy conducted further research into the ripple effect that was outside of the classroom and coined the term ‘Social Ripple Effect’ which proved that an individuals actions will influence communities and societies, making actions evolve into social norms, not just individual actions isolated in themselves.

Giving has this social ripple effect in our communities. When we give, we feel good, the receiver feels good and those who witness the action also feel good. Happiness spreads to these three in one simple act of giving. This instigates a ripple effect where others then give to another knowing how it feels and how it makes others feel.

How To Stay Happy All Year Long? – Give Every Day

Try The 365give Challenge at home, on your own, at work, or at school. Watch how giving every day will increase your happiness and spread happiness through your community. Simple acts of giving is a sure fire way to make 2022 one of your happiest years yet, one give one day at a time. Join 365give for free and get all the giving ideas you need to keep on giving!