"When I told my husband I wanted to clean up the trash that littered the bushes near the local train station, he looked at me with a funny face. He confessed, "Um, people might confuse you with one of those ladies who rummage through the garbage for soda cans." I smiled. Then, I showed him the neon-yellow volunteer's vest I bought online. He did not comment."
"The truth is, focusing elsewhere-on other people, pets, nature, and our environment-is a good way to get outside of our heads and the problems we carry. We are less miserable. This outward focus can boost our well-being. The simple act of hoping for the well-being of another person or the natural environment can release hormones that boost mood. I also treat nature like a friend. I am kind and empathic to the trees and the forest, and I receive joy in return."
"Sara Konrath, at the University of Michigan, has examined the topic of altruism and empathy for years. She and her colleagues wondered how doing good works around the world. They found that certain regions, such as East Asia, are more group-oriented. Therefore, people from these places score higher on empathy scales and are more likely to be super-empathizers as well. A group-oriented person sees himself as just one individual among many others. This person perceives harmony in their group and community as most important."
Focusing attention outward—on people, animals, and the natural environment—reduces rumination and improves mood by shifting perspective away from personal problems. Small acts of service, like community clean-ups, produce positive feelings and social gratitude that reinforce well-being. Wishing well for others and for nature can trigger hormone responses that elevate mood. Treating nature with kindness can generate reciprocal emotional benefits. Research shows cultural differences in empathy: group-oriented societies, such as in parts of East Asia, report higher empathy scores and more "super-empathizers." Group-oriented individuals prioritize harmony and view themselves as part of a larger community.
Read at Psychology Today
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