William James once said, “Act as if what you do makes a difference…It does”
Volunteering is to freely offer to do something. This simple gesture of kindness and empathy has recently grown over the past few years. As people from all over the world come together to support those in need, it inevitably creates a positive environment. Our preoccupied lives may need a breakthrough. Putting time and effort into a task with absolutely no financial gain could be nearly impossible. However, while there aren’t many financial benefits, there are countless emotional and mental ones.
Personally, volunteering is important as it fills a void in my life; A space that can only be filled by giving back to our community. To begin with, when one volunteers, you are automatically connected with people. all of them working for the same cause. Being around like-minded people makes one feel a sense of belonging and inclusion that can be difficult to find. Furthermore, it can immediately put your life into perspective. Seeing others, with less than you, can completely alter your outlook on life and the problems arising will turn into small matters.
Furthermore, volunteering can give you a sense of purpose. The lack of financial gain acts as a benefit as one can truly find and work towards the issues that mean something to you. It also reduces feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression that can aggravate our hectic and fast-paced lives.
Connecting you with people has a great positive impact on your mental health and builds a support system that helps fight against mental illnesses. Moreover, a study from the London School of Economics in 2008, looked at the relationship between happiness and volunteering in a big group of Americans. The research found that the more people volunteered, the happier they were. Compared with people who never volunteered, the odds of being ‘very happy’ rose seven percent among those who volunteer monthly and 12 percent for those who volunteer every two to four weeks.
Several organizations are now coming together to give back to society and work towards the betterment of our people. I am glad to be a part of the Wishes and Blessings volunteering wing ‘ Squad For Change’. This is an especially great organisation as it strives to bring people together and is open to a range of causes. They take into consideration the smallest of causes and try to make a movement and support them.
In conclusion, volunteering is one of the purest and kindest forms of helping someone. One does not need lots of clothing, money, or food to volunteer. Offering a simple plate of food to an unfortunate person is known as volunteering. It may not have a huge immediate effect however, every small action counts. To give back to others one must have a deep level of gratitude. Only when each person is content is when they can give back to others.
About the Author
Saisha Anand is a student of the British School, New Delhi. Open to several new opportunities and tasks, she especially enjoys the time she spends with animals and finds a true connection to them. She enjoys the company of several people and finds it interesting to understand different people and their values.