Is Faith a Large Key to Finding Happiness?

While glancing through my copy of this month’s Reader’s Digest, I stumbled upon an article centered on what makes people happy. Yeah I know Reader’s Digest is generally enjoyed by an older crowd, go ahead, laugh it up. However, I enjoy the old fashion values that it is centered on, and I consider myself a pretty old school kind of girl. So anyway, back to the article. The author, Arthur C. Brooks explains five life components that make people happy. Work, marriage and family, and freedom are all characteristics that make people feel good. I am going to focus on his two other predictors, faith and charity (hmm, two parts of the title of this blog that you’re currently reading…)

Let’s begin with faith. According to Brooks, 85% of Americans identify with a religion, and a third of Americans attend a religious service a minimum of once a week. These statistics have remained consistent over the last few decades. In a 2004 survey people who attend religious services are approximately twice as likely to report being very happy with their lives, in comparison to non-practicing folks. And religious followers are about one third more likely to say they’re hopeful about the future. Secularists reported feelings of failure twice as often. Also in 2004, people who reported praying daily as compared to those who don’t pray reported higher levels of happiness.

Another happiness forecaster in the article revolves around charitable giving. People who donate monetarily to charities are 43% more likely to report being happy than non-givers. A similar percentage exists for people who volunteer their time with charitable organizations. The author points out that regardless of what groups people donate either their time or money to, they generally report higher levels of happiness.

In conclusion, if you’re feeling blue, I suggest giving faith and charitable giving a try. If you can’t financially swing monetary giving, donate some time to an organization. Find something you’re passionate about, or create your own group. There is nothing as rewarding as giving to someone in need. Trust me, regardless of your situation, you will always find someone out there who is worse off than you are. Even though last year was only the first year of “Crochet for a Cure” I put love into each of the items I crafted. And I cherished being able to sign that check for The American Cancer Society. It felt so good to use a skill that my mom had taught me, to help others inflicted with a situation similar to what she endured. As far as faith, try reflecting on your own religious beliefs. Once you start thinking about your own faith and morals, you might be surprised by the personal growth that can come from such a journey.
If you’re interested in reading the article, look in the July 2008 issue of Reader’s Digest for the article “Why We’re Happy.”


“The faithful will abound with blessings.” Proverbs 28:20

“But do not forget to do good and share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Hebrews 13:16