Someone was telling me about feedback they’d received on some work they’d done to support a colleague.  While they absolutely acknowledged the significance of the progress the colleague had made, and the goals that had been achieved, they were also really taken with the feeling of happiness and satisfaction they were experiencing, simply knowing that they’d contributed towards this success.  It reminded me of these words from social psychologist Barbara Fredrickson:

“The benefits of positive emotions don’t stop after a few minutes of good feelings subside.  In fact, the biggest benefit that positive emotions provide is an enhanced ability to build skills and develop resources for use later in life.”

Let’s give ourselves permission to feel good about helping someone else.  And let’s not ignore impact of our actions on another.

Hold on to those wonderful feelings of wellbeing and positivity . . . and draw on them again, for yourself, for others, wherever you can.