How to Be Inspired by Serving Others

Being helpful is one of the best traits a person can have, more so if you are into serving others or doing volunteer work. The amazing thing about it is that giving can positively affect the giver. It’s because you can’t give to others without also gaining benefits yourself. When you are a servant leader, you won’t be lacking for an audience to help. You just need to always keep in mind that wherever you are in life, there is always someone you can help in some way. And when you look for ways on how you can help other people, you will realize that you’re also constantly blessed with things. 

Did you know that something powerful happens in the universe when you put your own agenda aside for a while, and simply help someone else? There’s something that shifts in our souls when we serve, and we also begin to look at ourselves differently. And with that, we also start looking at the world differently. There’s something powerful about serving others when we’re not expecting anything in return. This is what we call the act of altruism or the selfless concern for the well-being of others. 

Volunteering your time, money, and energy to serve others, aside from making the world better, can also make you better. Based on studies, the very act of giving back to the community can boost a person’s happiness, health, and sense of well-being. If you might be asking how you can be inspired by serving others, then you’re in the right place. Today, we are going to give you the different benefits you can get from serving other people that can make you become inspired. 

The Act of Altruism is Contagious

When a person does something good, it can cause a chain reaction of other altruistic acts. Based on a study, people are more likely to do deeds of generosity after seeing another person do the same. It means that this effect can ripple throughout the community and inspire dozens of individuals to make a difference. 

Serving Others Can Help You Live a Long Life

If you want to extend your lifespan, then serving others is one of the best ways that can help. You can choose to assist at a soup kitchen or coach a basketball team at an at-risk high school. These activities, based on studies, can improve health in ways that can add years to your lifespan. It’s because volunteers show an improved ability to manage stress and as well as to stave off disease. It can also help in reducing the rates of depression. What it can give you is an increased sense of satisfaction, especially when you do it regularly. Plus, serving others through volunteering can also alleviate loneliness and enhance social lives, which can affect long-term health significantly. 

Serving Others Can Make You Happy

Based on a study done on 2000 people over a five-year period, it found out that most of the Americans who described themselves very happy are those who volunteered at least 5.8 hours per month. Their sharp sense of well-being might be because of being more physically active as a result of volunteering, or because serving others can also make people become more socially active. Also, giving back might also give individuals a mental boost by providing them with a neurochemical sense of reward. 

Serving Others Can Improve Relationships

A lot of people are wondering what makes for a highly successful relationship. Based on research, one common denominator is reciprocal giving. It’s not just on romantic relationships but in any kind of relationship. When you help someone, they want to help you back, as well, and vice versa. There’s also a study that shows college students who performed community service were better able to work cooperatively, and they can resolve conflicts faster, as well.

Serving Others Can Promote Positive Behaviors in Teens

Teenagers who volunteer, based on sociologists, usually have better grades and self-image. Therefore, if you have teens, you can encourage them to start serving others, as well. 

Serving Others Can Give You a Sense of Purpose and Satisfaction

If you are looking for more meaning in your day-to-day existence, then based on studies, volunteering can enhance an individual’s overall sense of purpose and identity. This is especially effective for those who no longer hold a life-defining role like a worker or a parent. 

Serving Others Can Reduce Stress

When you help others, your body releases a hormone called oxytocin, which buffers stress and help you maintain social trust and tranquility. Aside from oxytocin, another chemical released by your body is dopamine, which is a mood-elevating neurotransmitter. These chemicals will help push aside negative emotions and reduce your stress level. 

Serving Others Can Benefit Your Career

According to a book by John Raynolds titled “The Halo Effect”, helping others or serving others for the right reasons can turn your life around, and its benefits can extend to your work. It states that when you become involved and when you lead with your heart as well as your head, the result will always be good. Instead of feeling depressed and unfulfilled at work, you will be happier, more confident, and inspired when you find something that makes you feel purposeful and generous. And of course, that will spread to every single area of your life. 

When people think of kindness, of helping or serving others, many feel like it should be some grand act in order to account. But it’s not. Serving others can be as simple as a gentle word, a smile, or a small token, which can impact another person dramatically in a positive way. No matter how happy some people can be on the outside, know that we are all dealing with something. It means that your kindness can make all the difference to someone who is going through a difficult time. Keep in mind that serving others does not depend on the size of the gift you give, but on the size of your heart when you give. 

Serving others can indeed help people become more inspired in living life. So, take a moment and think about what you can do each day to serve others.