For a long time, I didn't have the mental space to volunteer. Maybe I was hiding behind excuses, like being a student and needing help myself. However, as I got older, my values became more prominent, and one day, I told myself that I needed to match my actions to my words. The conclusion is clear: it feels amazing! Let me explain why.
As I mentioned in the introduction, when you have strong values like I do, you want to embody them. Volunteering allows you to put your skills to the service of a cause that is dear to you, making you feel useful and valued. You help yourself while helping others, which is gratifying because you feel like you're contributing to the community 😌.
Moreover, volunteering is an excellent way to have social connections. You meet new people who generally share the same values as you, which makes friendship easier. These new relationships strengthen our sense of belonging and reduce isolation 🤗.
That's what happened to me when I moved to a new region. I joined an association to do a clean walk on the beach. I met new people and felt so much more useful than just staying at home 🥺!
👋 Additionally, volunteering can help us develop our empathy, an essential value for being happy!
I probably should have volunteered when I was a student because it would have helped me put things into perspective, something I struggled with at the time. Sure, it wasn't easy since I was in a precarious situation, but we quickly forget that there are worse off than us 😥… Helping others allows us to shift our focus from our own problems and realize that, in the end, what happens to us "isn't so bad."
We get a dose of humility and realize that people who live worse than us are full of resilience.
⚠️ Be careful, I don't want to promote toxic positivity: if you have problems and can't stop ruminating, you also have the right to seek help through therapeutic support! I needed it myself. It's not about saying that because others have it worse, we should minimize what we feel about what we're going through. |
I'll tell you the truth, I didn't need to find meaning in my life 🤐. I have a lot of passion, curiosity, and desires, so I already had my ikigai in mind.
However, one of my friends saw her life change by volunteering. Being an animal lover, she decided to help the local animal shelter by walking dogs and feeding them. It was the trigger! She loves animals, is even vegetarian, and was going through a long period of unemployment, so why not make a career change and work with abandoned animals 🐶? I dare say, I think that thanks to volunteering, she gave her life meaning.
Of course, this isn't the case for everyone who volunteers, I'm the perfect example. However, by dedicating ourselves to a noble cause, we give our existence a purpose that goes beyond us.
To feel this benefit, it's important to choose a volunteer activity that suits us best. After all, there are all kinds of volunteering, you can help the elderly or assist in setting up a music festival 🎶!
Editorial Opinion: Helping Yourself!Volunteering is a breath of fresh air for the mind. It allows us not only to feel useful and connected to others, but also to gain perspective on our own difficulties. Helping others is also helping yourself, and it can bring a deep sense of satisfaction and meaning. However, it's important to remember that sometimes our problems require special attention. If you're going through a difficult time, don't hesitate to take care of your mental health. Talking to a psychologist can be an essential step in better understanding what you're experiencing and finding suitable solutions. After all, taking care of yourself is also a valuable form of help. 🤗 Understand yourself, accept yourself, be happy... It's here and now! |
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Article presented by Lauren Hart
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