I read this in an interesting article the other day:

Human beings appear to be genetically engineered to be happiest and healthiest when we spend a lot of time selflessly helping others—and unhealthy when we’re mostly devoted to self-gratification. That’s the eye-opening conclusion of University of North Carolina researchers, based on a study of 80 volunteers. The study subjects were asked how often they felt hedonic pleasure—the kind of happiness brought about by enjoying a tasty meal or buying themselves something. They were also asked how often they contributed something important to society that gave them a deeper sense of purpose. The researchers then drew the subjects’ blood, and found that the genes of the volunteers whose lives contained lots of pleasure but little meaning were priming cells to express high levels of inflammation—which is linked to cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease—and a weaker anti-viral response to infections. “Their daily activities provide short-term happiness yet result in negative physical consequences long-term,” psychophysiologist Barbara Fredrickson tells ScienceDaily.com. People who emphasize service to others and a connection to community, on the other hand, showed a pattern of gene expression linked to less inflammation and stronger immunity. There are two distinct kinds of happiness, says study co-author Steven Cole, and “our genes can tell the difference.”

I frequently emphasize doing good deeds. It appears that science also verifies the purpose for doing so. So what are you waiting for? Perform a good deed today, tomorrow and the next day. Not only will another benefit from your actions, your soul AND your body will be healthier for it.

Things are going really bad for you. Everything you do seems to turn out wrong. Even your friends and associates agree with that assessment. You are in despair.

Then things suddenly change. You wake up to find your life going in a much better direction. You have hope and joy again. You have been witness to a miracle.

Don’t take this for granted. Don’t simply give thanks through words. Just as a wonderful action was given to you, show your appreciation of your new life through similar acts of kindness. After all, you have been blessed.

When a baby first emerges from its mother, the Life Force greets it with, “Welcome to this world!” So how does the baby respond? It cries and screams like no tomorrow! It was comfortable and content being in its mothers womb, where it felt secure. It didn’t want change.

Many of us are still like that, after we have “matured”. We don’t want change – we just want things to remain as it was before, where we seemed comfortable and content with what we had. But life is not like that, nor should it be. We can’t evolve into something better and greater – whether it be physically, mentally or spiritually – without change.

Welcome today as you would welcome seeing a lost loved one again. Shed your insecure feelings about change and embrace every day as being able to be, and do, something new and different. This is where your personal growth lies, and this is where the Life Force will greet you.

Are you ever jealous of others because they own more than you, are better looking than you, have people more interested in them than you, or have greater responsibilities than you? Our lives are not measured that way. We are here to make someone or something better through our own energy and good deeds.

You needn’t be concerned about why your role in life is different – you are unique. Be proud of that. Actions that guide your own spiritual growth could have a different effect for others. The opposite is also true. You are not judged by your station in life, but by how you live your life.

To find refreshment during the hot summer months, open yourself to the breeze from your soul.

Nothing in our physical world exists without a spiritual foundation. What sustains every object in this world is The Eternal Energy emanating from that object. Each object is an expression of something It wishes to reveal to us. In time you will see the intention and reason behind everything that exists.

Everything you say and do has significance. You exert a cosmic influence on your everyday life which emanates from the center of your soul. You build the world, even if what you do seems mundane at times.

If a person showed you much kindness in the past, make those your primary thoughts about him or her. Downplay the things which they did that may have been hurtful to you. When you feel that someone should remember the good things which you did, keep in mind that they feel the same way about you.

Starting along a spiritual path is easy, as we are very enthusiastic when we start. Following it to the end, though, is much more difficult. Walking along at the same pace, over and over again, can breed monotony and boredom.

Keep on your personal path, no matter if anyone else has walked it or not. When you come to the end, you will find immense joy and spiritual fulfillment.

If you can’t seem to find the spiritual light that you are seeking, then become the light for someone else. You might discover that which you are looking for.