How helping Texas can make you happier and healthier

Doesn’t your heart just ache for the people of Houston, Texas right now?

Like me, you’re probably wondering how you can help. Fortunately in today’s hi-tech world it’s easy to do at the drop of hat. You can hop online, or even send a text, to make a donation directly to organizations helping people in need.

You may have already known that, but here’s something I bet you didn’t…

When you help someone, that act of generosity is returned to you in a scientifically proven way…

An act of kindness returned

350 million people worldwide suffer from depression — people, like you or I, who are left feeling blue, tired and even hopeless, without any interest in the things they used to love.

It can be something you live with daily, or just during intermittent periods in your life. I know I’ve certainly been there.

If depression has taken over your life and you’ve sought help for it from your doctor, you know that their answer involves whipping out that prescription pad.

Unfortunately, those antidepressants your doctor is so ready to prescribe come with a list of side effects that could make you even more depressed than you already are, like weight gain, fatigue, nausea, insomnia, blurred vision, anxiety, sexual problems and even clogged arteries.

But, what if there was a simple answer to help you feel happy and good about yourself again?

Scientists at the University of Zurich are claiming to have found the secret to putting just about anyone in a better mood…  and it’s generosity.

That’s right, you can improve your mood by being more giving or even just intending to be more giving.

How it works

The researchers studied a group of 50 volunteers. All participants were promised a sum of money and then had to make decisions on “generous behavior” such as whether they would give some or all of the money to someone they cared for.

While the volunteers were making their choice, the scientists monitored their brain activity, particularly in the region associated with happiness. And, the participants were ask to rate their happiness before and after the experiment.

Not only did the researchers find that those who behaved generously were happier than participants who made their decisions selfishly, they also discovered that the amount of the generosity had no bearing on happiness level.

Those who chose to give even a small gift experienced the same increase in happiness as participants willing to gift larger amounts and even more amazing, just the commitment to be more generous, even without the act itself had a positive impact on happiness levels.

How to improve your mood through giving

So, if you’re ready to improve your mood and start overcoming your depression, consider the benefits of generosity.

Here are the 5 steps to take to give more:

1. Embrace gratitude – The first step to giving more is to be thankful for the things you have. Keep a gratitude journal and list all that you have to be thankful for each day.
2. Start small – If you don’t normally consider yourself a generous person, start small. Even giving a dollar to someone in need can help them and boost your mood at the same time.
3. Find something you’re passionate about – Do you love animals? Give to an animal rescue organization. Is childhood literacy a cause you believe in? Donate to a charity that works to ensure all children can read. Maybe for you it’s the environment, civil rights or your religion. The key is to find something you’re passionate about to support.
4. Give your time – Generosity is about more than money. You can give of yourself by donating your time to work for your cause.
5. Make it a habit – Don’t give once and expect it to permanently impact your happiness level. Make being generous a lifelong habit.

If you’ve been thinking about helping the people in Texas whose lives have been turned upside down due to Harvey, ABC news has some good suggestions on how, when and what to give to the relief effort. Unfortunately the scammers have already started their money grab, so follow this good advice.

Depression is an insidious problem that can slowly steal everything you love from you. Fight back by embracing generosity and you’ll reap the rewards of happiness while improving the world around you.

Editor’s note: 38.6 million Americans take a single drug every day that robs their brain of an essential nutrient required for optimal brain health. Are you one of them? Click here to find out!