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Selfishness and isolation contribute to and exacerbate stress. It may seem counterintuitive, but helping others is a great de-stressor. If you need helping figuring out where to begin, today’s excerpt will help. (Note: the links are embedded from the original article and are not part of our domain or care.)
Creating a balanced lifestyle that includes service to others can help you feel less stress as well, as you feel more connected to your spirit, more grateful for what you have, and less invested in the ‘rat race’ that causes stress for so many of us. Focusing on the positive in life, and creating more positive things in the world, can help you to maintain greater feelings of happiness and fulfillment as well.
The following articles can give you ideas and resources for how to create a life that includes more helping others.
- Finding Meaning Through Helping Others: Do you have a nagging feeling that something’s missing? Many people find volunteering time, money or castoffs as a way to give life meaning. Learn more about how getting involved in a cause you believe in can help reduce stress, increase happiness, and bring more meaning to your life. These tips make it easy for people of various lifestyles.
- Follow Your Passion: This resource from Oprah helps you to look within yourself and see what you’d like to be doing to help others, and then do it!
- Network For Good: This site can help you keep track of your charitable donations for tax purposes. Better still, it can help you find volunteer opportunities in your area that fit your criteria, whether you’re looking to help a lonely senior, play with a homeless puppy, or get involved with a different cause.
Source: “How Helping Others Can Reduce Stress and Increase Happiness.” By Elizabeth Scott. http://stress.about.com/