Volunteerism is often seen as giving up something for oneself (time or the chance to make money) to help another. No wonder people think of it as a kind of sacrifice which is preferably avoided. However, on the contrary, volunteering is one of the best things you can do for yourself, making you much happier.
The Happy Planet Index (a way to measure people’s happiness) finds that the happiest people are not the most materialistic wealthy, but those with the most connections, who share their lives with others (Especially, Latin American countries scored high). No doubt, a certain amount of material comfort is beneficial, but connecting with others (by reaching out and “doing good” to other people, animals, and plants) generates a much deeper and longer lasting fulfillment than anything which is only done for myself could.
That is the whole mission of Volunteerism – to engender this kind of deep happiness which becomes the basis of our being. And isn’t this what each and every one of us wants in our lives? In this sense, volunteerism is one of the most selfish activities we can engage in. It clears away the illusion that pleasing myself while ignoring others can bring about a firm sense of contentment. This hallucination fades away as one comes to realize that pleasing oneself while pleasing others creates a longer-lasting, deeper joy. Previous feelings of despair and emptiness disappear as you experience yourself as a catalyst of happiness in others’ lives, which circulates back and creates the same in your own life.
You become a constructive agent for change, bringing about a better world and infecting those around you with the goodness in yourself, and making them aware that they, too, have the same within themselves waiting to be released. And others do the same for you in a “circle of benevolence.” It is this kind of joyous spirit which people can look forward to when they make volunteerism a part of their lives, doing something they truly believe in and blessing themselves with the gift of purpose, meaning, and deeper joy.
