Does Mentoring Improve Well-being?

Can money buy happiness? 

In his talk, How To Buy Happiness, Michael Norton says that if you think you can't buy happiness then your spending on the wrong things! 

It turns out that he's run some clever research studies that show that when you spend money on yourself it doesn't make you happier but when you spend it on others or do something charitable with money, it increases your happiness. 

I reckon this supports my theory that mentoring is good for you. 

When you mentor, you give your time, attention and the gift of listening to another.

It has been shown that the act of giving (or even observing someone give to or help another) stimulates areas of the brain that release the feel-good chemical, dopamine. 

Mentoring does more than make people feel good. It provides timeout for thinking and reflecting. It encourages critical thinking, goal setting and planning. Mentors learn to be present, to listen consciously, to reduce judgmental attitudes, all of which promote well-being.

A lot more attention is being paid to well-being at work and people are much more aware of the importance of relationships and communication in reducing stress. Neuroscience is identifying ways to create and strengthen neural pathways and stimulate growth in parts of the brain vital to mental health. 

So, does mentoring improve well-being? 

What do you think? Comment below.