Director of Spiritual Care Jim Andrews
I heard about a very interesting social experiment that was recently conducted. The researchers chose random people off the street. If the individual agreed to participate, they were asked to rate their happiness on a scale of 1 -1 0 before they started the experiment. Then, they were divided into two groups. The first group was given $20 and the instructions to go out and spend it on themselves before the end of the day. The other group was given $20 as well, but was instructed to go out and spend it on someone else before the end of the day. Two interesting results emerged.
- The people who spent the money on themselves weren’t very creative about it. Just got themselves a Starbucks gift card or something along those lines. The people who were told to spend it on someone else were much more innovative and creative about the expenditure.
- The people who spent the money on themselves reported that their level of happiness at the end of the day was the same. For those who spent it on someone else? As you might guess, they invariably reported significantly higher level of happiness at the end of the day!
This study just serves to confirm what we all know in our hearts, doesn’t it? When we break out of the bubble of our own worries and desires and rise up to our soul’s potential for generosity, creativity, and compassion; the joy which previously seemed so illusive, readily warms and fills us.
Have a great week, everyone!
Jim