In February 2014, during his talk “Economics, Happiness, and the Search for a Better Life” at the American Enterprise Institute, the Dalai Lama was already speaking to us about the profound impact that generosity has on our lives.
“If we neglect others, we also lose.”
“We can educate people to understand that the best way to serve their own interests is to care about the well-being of others. But this will take time.”
This statement becomes even more relevant when we review the findings of the book A Good Life, based on the world’s largest study on happiness conducted by Harvard University. This research fully supports the Dalai Lama’s words.
“Helping others benefits the one who helps. There is both a neural and practical connection between generosity and happiness.”
Those of us who work on educational projects that include Successful Educational Actions (SEAs) have been direct witnesses of this evidence. At the beginning of the school year, we encounter girls and boys who arrive unmotivated or with low self-esteem, but after participating in dialogic literary gatherings, where they generously share their thoughts, knowledge, and ideas, they undergo a wonderful transformation. They become empowered and often turn into positive leaders in their class, finding new joy in learning.
We have witnessed moving stories of children and adolescents who, with solidarity, help their peers during interactive groups, promoting the idea that the success of one is the success of all. This attitude of cooperation transforms the classroom environment, creating a climate of support and collaboration, where those who contribute the most are also those who experience the greatest happiness and learning.
Moreover, in the schools where SEAs are implemented, we benefit from the valuable presence of volunteers—members of the educational community who, altruistically, offer their time, knowledge, and cultural intelligence to improve students’ lives. These individuals not only provide support; they often express that it is they themselves who feel most fortunate for the opportunity to collaborate and help.
Likewise, when teachers share their training and experience with colleagues without seeking recognition, with the sole aim of benefiting the students, they experience deep personal satisfaction. Generosity and dedication in teaching bring about a great emotional reward: working for others, and for an even greater goal—the transformation of society.
Ultimately, offering ourselves to others, helping them, and sharing what we have is the true path to happiness. This is the transformative power of generosity. This has been demonstrated by research showing that what makes citizens of prosperous societies happiest is, above all, their ability to create unity and solidarity among their members—in other words, cohesion.
We must remember this valuable lesson. In a social context that often promotes individualism and competitiveness, it is in schools and high schools where we can show that by practicing generosity and solidarity, we not only learn more but also become much happier.
Article translated from Periódico Educación
Secondary school teacher