Spread some joy and ask for help

We all know what to do to be healthy and well. But what does it take to be happy? We get ideas from our culture about consumption and social media. Happiness from those frameworks is often quite temporary/fleeting.

Think of some people you know who are very happy. Although our culture encourages independence and self-sufficiency, it turns out that a significant factor in happiness is giving to and helping others.

In my career as an occupational therapist, I was the go-to person for help. It is very satisfying and gives me joy. This article came from trying to teach patients who were caregivers to ask for help. Give others the opportunity to feel good about helping you!

We all need help with something, and it is common wisdom that “Many hands make light work.” There’s also the concept of collaborative synergy, which is when collaboration produces results greater than the sum of individual efforts.

So, spread some joy today and ask for help. We could all use some help. Or, if you prefer, you could offer help to someone else. Even little bits of help are significant.

By Paul Zulak, Beaverton Committee on Aging member. Learn more about the BCOA at www.BeavertonOregon.gov/BCOA.