Since the dawn of time humanity has been hounded by and sought an answer to the age old question, "why are we here". Cultures the world over have come up with answer after answer, but how is one to know, to truly know whether the traditional response is right or not. We are usually instructed, usually indoctrinated at a young age not to question the answer we are given, but to live it and we are told that through such action we will see that the answer is true. Buddhists for example (and other's I am sure) contend that the reason we are here on Earth is to seek, find or create happiness. The Dalai Lama adds rhetorically, "What other reason could there be"? It is a wise answer and just the sort that a pupil could follow blindly believing he is fulfilling his Earthly purpose.

Researchers from The University of British Columbia and Harvard have discovered that happiness does not necessarily reside where you think it does. Apparently, making your self happy doesn't work nearly as well as simply helping others. I recently saw a program (on the CBC I think it was, but can't recall the details) where they took five individuals and got them to fulfill both parts of the study. They tested them for stamina and brain stimulus before the study, then again after instructing them to go and do something nice for themselves, and then again after being instructed to help others. All five subjects showed no improvement after their selfish pampering, but all five also made a marked improvement following their personal act of charity.

Happiness comes, not as a result of making yourself happy, but as a result of being good to others.

X