Discovering Life Satisfaction through Volunteering

            “Everyone has a purpose in life… a unique gift or 

special talent to give others.  And when we blend 

unique talent with service to others, we experience

the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit,

which is the ultimate goal of all goals.”

Deepak Chopra

Strong, healthy communities are built by everyone doing their part to make the community successful.  At the same time we can reap the benefits derived from volunteering. Studies have shown that people who volunteer are more satisfied with their lives. Even if we are struggling with unresolved trauma, it is extremely therapeutic to help others. Volunteering removes us from getting caught up in the thoughts and actions that may be causing us grief. Most of us are busy with families and jobs; but we can take the time to make a difference. Perhaps volunteer activities can be conducted with loved ones as a way of spending time with them. When we help someone else find something to smile about, our whole world will get a little bit brighter. 

            Tips for Getting Started with Volunteering:

            First we need to ask ourselves if there is something we want to do, to learn more about and are there positive changes we want to make for our communities. We can start our preparation for volunteering by asking what we want to accomplish by exploring the following options:

·         Make improvement to our environment. This may involve garbage pick up on the streets by our homes or volunteering in scouting.

·         To meet interesting people.

·         To try something new.

·         To do something we are good at. Perhaps we are good at organizing so we can help with organizing some fundraising events.

·         To explore a type of work we may seek as a full time job at a later date.

·         To do more with our interests and hobbies. We may like to be artistic so we may volunteer to help elders or disabled individuals with art projects.

·         To see a different way of life and new places.  Perhaps we could volunteer at homeless shelter.  

The best way to begin our volunteer experience is to match our personality and interests with the volunteer activities that are available. There are a multitude of volunteer opportunities available in every community. The key is to find the activity we are capable of doing and would enjoy doing. It is also important that our commitment matches the organization’s needs. 

We need to ask ourselves the following questions:

·         What skills can we bring to the organization?

·         How much responsibility are we willing or can we take on?

·         What causes are important to us? 

·         How much time are we willing to commit?

·         Do we want to be behind the scenes or in a more visible role?

            A whole host of advantages are associated with volunteering:

·         Volunteering connects us with others and we will make new friends and contacts. One of the best known benefits of volunteering is the positive impact on the community. We meet all kinds of people and can experience a sense of belonging. It’s a two way street. It can benefit us and our family as much as the cause we are helping. Our social skills will be boosted along with an enhancement of our social and support network. We are exposed to people with similar interests, community resources, and fulfilling experiences.

·         Volunteering is good for our minds and bodies. 

o   Volunteering increases self-confidence, self-esteem and life satisfaction. When we are doing good things for others and the community, we are providing ourselves with a sense of accomplishment. We are provided with a sense of pride and identity. The better we feel about ourselves, the more we will have a positive view of our lives and what lies in our future. 

o   Volunteering can combat depression. A key negative component of depression is social isolation. With volunteering, we are in contact with others on a regular basis and it helps us develop a support system. This in turn can protect us from additional harmful stress during challenging times.

o   Volunteering may help us stay or get physically fit. Studies have demonstrated that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not.  Volunteering has also been shown to lessen the symptoms of chronic pain and heart disease. We need to get off the couch, away from the television and out into the world. 

o   Volunteering as a family can have a whole host of benefits. Children watch what adults do and if we are involved in the community and helping others, they may be more likely to follow in our footsteps. We can demonstrate how our efforts to help others and the community are worthwhile and makes a difference. It is a way to enact change. It is also a great way to get to know about community resources and expand our family’s connections within the community.

·         We are provided opportunities to learn or develop new skills. We may discover something we are really good at and we may develop a new skill. It is never too late to learn new skills and learning needs to be ongoing throughout our lifetime. Planning and implementing a fundraising event can develop our goal setting, budgeting, and planning skills. Supervising and training other volunteers may assist us with developing supervisory and training skills.  Painting a mural or making posters or banners to advertise community events may lead us to discover our artistic abilities. All in all, with volunteering we may enhance these important skills: problem solving; communication; teamwork; project planning; task management; and organization. 

·         Volunteering can enhance our career opportunities. All the skills mentioned above can lead to being a better employee for any organization and to top things off we will possibly get our foot in the door with specific organizations. Organizations will recognize our talents and willingness to be a part of a team and may consider us for positions within their organizations.

·         Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to our lives. It provides us with a way to explore our interests and passions. Volunteering can afford us with opportunities to get a break from the day to day responsibilities and can give us a chance to renew or rekindle our creativity, motivation, and vision that can spill over into our personal and professional life. People with a desk job may volunteer to help maintain a hiking trail in order to give them an opportunity to get outside. 

Most of us have busy lives; but we need to do our part for our communities. The benefits of volunteering are colossal.  I have met a lot of great people because of my volunteering activities and there were so many times in which I felt my assistance has been needed. I have learned a lot also. We all have time we can spare.  By turning off the television for a few extra hours a week or other ways in which we are wasting time, we can do so much more for ourselves and our communities.