Lecture Notes: The Impact of Giving and Happiness

Introduction

• Speaker: Jacqueline Lee
• Topic: The importance of giving in creating happiness
• Context: Personal experiences of being a mother

The Challenge of Parenthood

• Jacqueline is a mother of three boys
• Describes the multifaceted role of a parent (doctor, baker, coach, etc.)
• Desire for children: Happy childhood, friendships, kindness, and compassion

Global Context

• World Happiness Report Findings:
  • 220 million children suffer from anxiety, depression, and conduct disorders
  • 1 billion adults affected by similar issues
  • Best predictor of adult satisfaction: Emotional health in childhood

Personal Experience and Lessons

• Family Tradition:
  • Christmas visits to the hospital with father to sing carols
  • Impact: Bringing happiness to patients and personal fulfillment
• Science of Giving:
  • Giving triggers endorphins ("helper's high")
  • Reduces cortisol (stress hormone)
  • Increases serotonin (happiness transmitter)

Initiating Daily Giving in Family

• Project: 365 days of giving with son, Nick
• Objective: One act of kindness/helpfulness each day
• Initial challenges and overcoming them with creativity

Examples of Daily Giving

• Donation to animal shelters
• Garbage collection and recycling
• Emphasis on small, manageable acts of kindness

Influence and Spread of 365give

• Blog started to track the daily giving journey
• Global engagement and stories from readers:
  • Henry from London: Daily breakfast to a homeless man
  • Arwoney from Uganda: Lunch for street children
  • Amy from Australia: Integrating daily giving in classroom

Educational Program

• Creation of the "365give challenge" for schools
• Powered by kids: they choose their giving acts
• Example: Grade two class activities (cookie delivery, fundraising)
• Positive feedback from teachers: Better community connection, happier classrooms

Impact and Vision

• Over 5,000 children in 25 schools have participated
• Encouragement for widespread adoption
• Potential global impact: If everyone participated, massive number of daily gives
• Call to Action:
  • Begin personal daily giving lists
  • Examples: Donations, volunteering, helping neighbors

Conclusion

• Goal: Transition from anxiety and depression to happiness through daily acts of giving
• Collective impact: A better, happier world through small daily contributions
• Final encouragement: Everyone can participate, as simple as brushing teeth

Note: This lecture emphasized the power of small daily acts of kindness, the personal and collective benefits of giving, and the potential for creating a global movement towards happiness.