I found the ultimate happiness hack

The Planetherapy bracelets we handed out

A few days ago, I returned from a deeply meaningful visit to Israel, where I had the privilege of joining an international delegation of therapists organized by Planetherapy, a nonprofit offering free online emotional support worldwide to those affected by the October 7th events.

We spent an entire week touring the country, meeting people who were deeply affected by the events of that day — listening to their stories, learning about their experiences, and offering emotional support wherever we could.

As a positive psychology coach, I know that helping others is one of the strongest happiness boosters we have. But still — I couldn’t have imagined just how much I would receive in return.

And I don’t just mean the moments during one-on-one or group sessions, where I felt such deep love and connection with the people I met. I felt it, too, while harvesting and planting lettuce on a hydroponic farm. That simple act gave me exactly what I needed — it grounded me, calmed me, and reconnected me with the pure joy of planting.

Why Giving Feels So Good

Want to know why giving is so good for you? Science has a lot to say about it.

Research shows that acts of kindness activate the brain’s reward system — releasing feel-good chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin that create what psychologists call the “helper’s high.”  This natural boost not only lifts our mood but also reduces stress and strengthens our sense of connection to others.

Studies, including a 2017 review titled “Positive Feelings, Reward, and Prosocial Behavior,” found that helping others creates a positive feedback loop: when we do something kind, we feel good — and those good feelings make us want to help again. In other words, helping others boosts happiness, and happiness makes us more likely to help. Psychologists like Sonja Lyubomirsky and Martin Seligman have found that people who regularly practice kindness or volunteer consistently report higher well-being and life satisfaction.

But beyond the biology, there’s also something deeply human about it. When we give — whether it’s our time, presence, or care — we remind ourselves that we matter. We shift the focus from what’s missing in our own lives to what we can create for someone else.

This week in Israel turned out to be one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. I came home feeling full — full of gratitude, purpose, and hope. I arrived with an open heart, ready to give — and I left realizing how much giving had given me back.

It reminded me that happiness often shows up when we step outside of ourselves, connect, and offer what we have — even something small — to someone who needs it.

And so, I’m carrying this reminder forward. To keep giving. To keep showing up. Because every time we give — we do something good for others and for ourselves.