Generosity — a strategy for happiness
Forget Crypto or the stock exchange, Generosity is the new currency that gets you real values for your pound.
I recently had a conversation with a very ‘successful person’ who was considering how and what else they could spend their money. They have everything they could possibly want and still lots of available money burning a hole in their bank account.
During the conversation as the person set out their latest idea to spend an eye watering amount of money, I dropped into the conversation that instead of designing the wine cellar they could fund the running of a school for a year in Africa. They laughed and said they paid enough tax and continued planning their new home for their 1958 Merlot.
According to his Holiness and author, Dalia Lama, and friend and co author or ‘the Book of Joy’, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, ‘Generosity’ ’ is one of the eight pillars of joy. After finishing their enlightening read, I started to identify that when I was generous with my actions, my time or my money to others less fortunate, it brought fulfillment, that feels different and good. Now don’t get me wrong I like nice things like the next person, I didn’t suddenly turn into Saint Anne, but my observations are that it created a confidence and purpose within me that my lovely new wooden floor in my living room did not.
I look at my ‘successful friend’ and I see their impressive array of possessions but I don’t see happiness or purpose. In the westernised world to which the majority seem to attach all our values, success seems to equate to wealth and acquisition of assets. There doesn’t seem to be any value to the holistic feelings of happiness, purpose and fulfilment . But it is interesting to note that many of the ‘super successful’ seemed to have stumbled upon the same formula to happiness. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft gives vast sums of his wealth away but more importantly gives his time and effort too. And Marcus Rashford, Manchester Utd striker, has given so much to the campaign ensuring children have access to meals in the holidays.
So today, if you can, take one meaningful generous step and help rewrite the meaning of success.
