The Secret to a Happy Life

There is a Chinese saying that goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” For centuries, the greatest thinkers have suggested the same thing: happiness is found in helping others. However, is there a deeper truth behind the altruism? The resounding(...) answer is yes. Scientific research provides compelling(...) data to support the anecdotal(...) evidence that giving is a powerful pathway to personal growth and lasting happiness. Experiments show evidence that altruism(...) is hardwired within the brain; in fact it’s actually pleasurable. Helping others may just be the secret to living a life that is not only happier but also healthier, wealthier, more productive and meaningful. However, it’s important to remember that giving doesn’t always feel great. Giving can make us feel depleted(...) and taken advantage of. Here are some tips to that will help you give not until it hurts, but until it feels great:
1. Find your passion: Our passion should be the foundation(...) for our giving. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving. It’s only natural that we will care about this and not so much about that, and that’s okay. It should not be simply a matter of choosing the right thing, but also a matter of choosing what is right for us.
2. Give your time: The gift of time is often more valuable to the receiver and more satisfying for the giver than the gift of money. We don’t all have the same amount of money, but we do all have time on our hands and can give some of this time to help others whether that means we devote our lifetimes to service, or just give a few hours each day or a few days a year.
3. Be proactive, not reactive: We have all felt the dread(...) that comes from being cajoled(...) into giving, such as when friends ask us to donate to their fundraisers. This type of giving doesn’t lead to a warm glowing feeling; more likely it will lead to resentment(...) . Instead, we should set aside time, think about our options and find the best charity for our values.
The key is to find the approach that fits us. When we do, then the more we give, the more we stand to gain purpose, meaning and happiness, all of the things that we look for in life but are so hard to find. (Reading text adapted from time)