I Hope I Can Make You Feel Good

You may be asking yourself: who is she to think she can make me feel good? Fair enough, so let me start my blog by telling you who I am.

I have always cared a lot for people around me. My family, friends, classmates and colleagues could count on me for help, comfort, encouragement and laughter. On the other hand, I was born and raised in the most populous city in the southern hemisphere (São Paulo, Brazil) which made me indifferent (if not suspicious) towards strangers.

Being indifferent (if not suspicious) towards strangers can be a successful approach when you live among 10 million people who are frequently fighting for a space in the metro, a parking spot, a place in a line or a well-paid job. However, it can also lead to excessive competitiveness, stress and a strange feeling of isolation. I was experiencing all those symptoms when I was invited to a workshop on Quality of Life.

I was trying to remember this workshop’s tips to improve your quality of life (exercise? meditation? time management?). The fact is that the idea that got stuck in my mind was: do something good for a stranger every day. Cynic that I was, I asked to myself: where can I find a stranger every day to whom I can do something good and how it will help me to improve my quality of life?

The answer to my first question was (obviously or not): everywhere. Helping someone to cross the street, offering to give directions, holding a door open, giving up your seat in the metro or your spot in a line or just smiling, saying good morning. There are so many daily opportunities to do something good for a stranger!! You may find other ideas at http://www.peopleforgood.ca/

I put it in practice and can tell you that it really made me feel good. I am not a psychologist but I like the idea around the ‘feel-good, do good and do good, feel good’ phenomenon according to which people who feel joyful are more likely to do good for others and, conversely, when they do good for others they are more likely to feel happy. Actually the feeling grew so strong inside of me that I decided to leave my corporate and investment banking career and pursue a new path which brought me to EOI. I am excited to learn about Development that I believe relates to improving people’s lives and making them happier, so I am sure Development can make me a happier person too.

And you? How do you feel? Good?

Comments Off on I Hope I Can Make You Feel Good / 25 Nov 2012 por Andrea Mara Hanai
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