I found an interesting snippet on the Toronto Star’s page “Mind & Mood.” It seems money can buy you happiness — as long as you are giving the money away or spending it on others.

Here’s a little of what the article says (”Mom was right: Giving really is better than receiving“):

New Canadian-led research, being published tomorrow in the prestigious journal Science, says that spending your money on other people makes you happier than lavishing it on yourself.

“Spending on others can make people happy, yet people might not foresee this ahead of time,” said Elizabeth Dunn, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia and the lead study author.

Giving money away can come in many forms, including buying presents and straightforward charity, but it is not clear if one form of giving packs more joy than another.

So, if you value happiness more than a pile of cash, you know the answer. Generosity, it seems, rewards both the giver and receiver.

Technorati Tags: happiness, enjoying life, happiness research, generosity