Living in a world that largely centers around individualism and personal gain, it can be hard to maintain an inclusive, compassionate, and generous mindset focused on sharing – but it is very much key to life full of good health and happiness.
So when was the last time you shared honestly and with no expectations of getting anything in return?
In Scandinavia, sharing is an integrated part of society and everyday culture. We are not afraid to share – and children are even taught to give cakes to others when it’s their birthday – because nothing is more powerful than sharing one’s own happiness with others.
A lot of people often say it’s ‘easy’ in a society that is pretty equal when it comes to wealth distribution and that has a solid social framework with everything from schooling to healthcare being free and accessible to all.
But I will argue that the framework obviously helps, but that the mindset goes deeper than just an institutionalized setup. The desire for sharing was there long before the current public sector was implemented, and it’s only maintained because the mindset is still there to support it.
Why? Because sharing makes us feel good. Not in the sense of making us feel superior, but because we are all social beings connected on various levels. Even scientists now agree that all humans are connected on an energetic level. And we all feel it because when we live amongst other people that are happy, we are likely to feel it too. The atmosphere changes because we pick up on each other’s vibes – and it doesn’t matter whether that’s at a small dinner party, or in a whole town!
By sharing we help lift and support each other; whether that’s physically or emotionally. When we share it triggers the neurochemical drivers of happiness in our brains such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin, which in return improves our mood. So the more often you give to others, the better you’ll feel.
According to research from the Royal College of Physicians:
“Sharing experiences can be a cathartic and powerful way to help improve mental health. Not only can shared experiences help you to know that you are not alone, but they can also inspire and support others in a similar situation.”
What to share and where to start…
In a world that is seeing a lot of conflict at the moment, it can be hard to know where to start. We are all different, living lives under different circumstances, but every act of kindness/sharing/giving counts so here are some suggestions to help you on your way:
Today – share one compliment or smile with a complete stranger or someone you rarely talk to. When people smile it’s hard not to smile back!
Give unwanted items to charity – whether it’s a local organization or not, the key thing is that you probably have things in your home that you don’t need or use, and these things could help others whilst raising money for a good cause.
Give your time – it doesn’t need to be on a regular basis, but even an hour volunteering your time to either help a neighbor, clear up litter in your local community, or support a local organization can make a big difference.
Sharing happiness is one of the most powerful things we can do and with a little bit of practice, it is something we can all get into the habit of doing. It also sets an example for others. And just imagine what a beautiful world we would live in if all picked up on the ripple effect of this…
On that note, I hope you have a wonderful week ahead with lots of happiness, health and hygge.
All the best,
Dorte x
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