5 benefits of service

When it comes to giving, the popular saying is, “it is more blessed to give than to receive”. In the bid to serve others or the community, we are giving for the common good or the good of a few people. Whichever way you see it, as you give to make others happy so you find happiness too. In this article, I discuss five benefits of giving. Giving is one of the best ways you can contribute to humanity and on the flip side, giving gets you to where you want to be in life. May be not faster but like Dr. Mike Murdoch said, “what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.”

  1. Serving builds your capacity – if you have always wanted to learn something without the formal classroom method, serve. It is a process of apprenticeship that will teach you beyond the curriculum to the nuances, mores and ethics of a process. You build yourself when you serve others. Competencies such as confidence, team work, taking instructions, listening skills and many more can be learnt in the course of serving.
  2. Serving gives you happiness – several years ago, I volunteered at a local college speaking to the students about success habits, building responsible lives and developing sound morals. Months later, I woke up one day lightly depressed. As I made my way out of the house, I met two young students that gave me a warm salutation. They reminded me of the impact I made on them. At that instance, all depressive feelings left me. There is a Chinese saying that, “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
  3. Serving keeps you productively busy – an idle mind is said to be the devil’s workshop. To avoid idleness, learn to serve at the slightest opportunity to avoid idleness. The mind is a massive instrument of creative influence that must not be wasted. Never get used to being idle. Always feed your mind with positive and empowering thoughts.
  4. Serving gives you a sense of purpose and positions you for your assignment – “Giving back is as good for you as it is for those you are helping, because giving gives you a sense of purpose. When you have a purpose-driven life, you’re a happier person” — Goldie Hawn
  5. Serving helps to replenish the earth. Many people are takers but few are givers. It is easier to receive than to give however, serving is a way of restocking goodness, nourishing kindness and making better life available to others.