I have eaten hundreds of ice creams. But the only ice cream I remember is the one I never ate. On a scorching afternoon in New Delhi, as my wife and I settled on the chairs in front of an ice cream shop, from the corner of my eyes, I saw a little boy interested in my cone. I walked over and gave him my ice cream. The memory of his gratitude-filled eyes has nourished me dozens of times.

When you share something of value, the message you tell yourself is that I have plenty. I am contributing to a purpose on the planet. That message goes deep and activates a healthy set of genes, improving your physical and mental health.

Keep in mind that you can only give when someone is willing to receive. The people who agree to receive from you are giving you the opportunity to start a process that switches on your healthier genes. What bigger gift can anyone offer to you?

So, consider making a list of the people who have helped you by agreeing to receive your help, and feel grateful for them. I hope this insight will add hundreds if not thousands to your gratitude list. 

Excerpted from the book, That Makes Sense: Resilience-insights to lift your day.