Most of us wait for something big to feel good…
A promotion,
A thank-you from the boss,
A formal letter of appreciation…
But
Do we really need to?
Recently, I was on an overnight train journey from Ujjain to Bombay.
I love train rides!
They give me space to reflect, especially between my MBA lectures in Mumbai on leadership, negotiation, and change management.
An elderly couple boarded the cabin in which I was.
Only one of them had a first-class ticket.
The wife explained that, due to a last-minute booking, she had a second-class ticket but was there to help her husband settle in.
When the ticket conductor came, he asked her to return to her compartment.
She politely asked for a few minutes to feed her husband.
Something in me shifted.
I offered to exchange places;
I took her second-class ticket so she could remain with him.
She was stunned. It wasn’t a short journey but an overnight one.
But to me, it wasn’t a sacrifice; it was a privilege.
Not a downgrade, but an upgrade.
Because the joy I saw in their eyes was far more valuable than a cushioned seat and a quiet ride.
What I didn’t know at the time was that I had just experienced what researchers call the “Helper’s High.”
Helping others releases dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin — the brain’s natural feel-good chemicals.
Studies show it can reduce stress, improve mental health, and even extend life.
That moment on the train reminded me; the true highs don’t always come from promotions, praise or grand gestures.
Sometimes, it is simply the choice to stay calm when someone cuts you off in traffic.
To forgive quietly, because peace feels better than being right.
To hold a door open for someone or to simply offer a genuine compliment.
Have you experienced something like this? I’d love to hear your story