09/09/2025
We’ve all heard of a “runner’s high,” a “sugar high,” or perhaps even a “lover’s high,” but have you ever heard of a “helper’s high”?
A 2010 research project demonstrated that college students who helped others exhibited greater well-being (including personal growth, integrity, and purpose) years later compared to students who did not (Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 31, no.2).
The results echo the words of American writer Leo Rosten: “The purpose of life is not to be happy—but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you lived at all” (11.29.2014).
In other words, helping others brings purpose to life. Psychologists James Baraz and Shoshana Alexander refer to this as a “helper’s high.” Altruism has been shown to produce the same chemicals in the brain as a mild version of a morphine high. When someone gives, the part of the brain that lights up in an MRI is the same region that is active in response to pleasure or receiving rewards. We are created to help others (Think This, Not That, 74).
What psychologists have discovered as new information is actually as old as the words of Jesus. Jesus said, “But I am among you as the one who serves” (Luke 22:27). On another occasion, Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus told His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
Helping others. Serving others. Sacrificing for others. All throughout both the Old and New Testaments, we are instructed to put others first, and that our greatest joy comes in giving more than receiving (Acts 20:35). When Paul wrote that he was acting on behalf of others, he was filled with comfort. Even in affliction, he said he was “overflowing with joy” (2 Corinthians 7:4).
When our first act is to find our own comfort and seek our own pleasure, we quickly discover how empty and unsatisfying our quest has become. But when our first act is to put others before ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4), we discover our “joy tank” is full and we’ve stepped into that “helper’s high.”
I’m writing this blog the week before our church goes and serves as part of our FOR317 Sunday. This is where we have one, combined service at 9:30 am, and then we go and “practice what we preach.” We serve others. If you’re in the area, why don’t you join us and see how full your “joy tank” can be as you experience a “helper’s high”?
