Dr. L. R. Lofton, Psy.D., Psychologist, shares the benefits of volunteering. The gift of one’s time, contributing, has both benefit for the volunteer and the recipient.
My preverbal bar in life is set pretty high. It is uniquely different from most, yet similar when we consider how we are able to share our individual unique gifts or expertise with others.
I have accomplished much in this short life and have much more to accomplish. One lesson I have learned is to value the benefits to be gained from helping others through volunteer efforts.
Contributing.
It is highly recommended and encouraged that individuals continually question how they are contributing to the lives of others.
What are your greatest accomplishments in life thus far? Is there room for more?
The benefits of volunteering provide an individual with a sense they are contributing to another’s self improvement and well-being. In North America, it is estimated one out of three adults regularly spends some time volunteering, according to University of Minnesota Psychologist Mark Snyder, PhD, who studies volunteerism.
"When I initially started thinking about this, I was struck by how much easier it was to come up with reasons why people shouldn’t volunteer than why they should. " ----Dr. Mark Snyder, PhD
5 Primary Motivations For Volunteering
(1) Values. Volunteering to satisfy personal values or humanitarian concerns.
(2) Community concern. Volunteering to help a particular community, such as a neighborhood or group, to which you feel attached.
(3) Esteem enhancement. Volunteering to feel better about oneself, or escape other pressures.
(4) Understanding. Volunteering to gain a better understanding of other people, cultures or places.
(5) Personal development. Volunteering to challenge yourself, meet new people and make new friends, or further one’s career.
Different types of volunteers have slightly different levels of these motivations, according to Snyder. Younger volunteers, for example, are more likely to volunteer for career-related reasons, while older volunteers more often cite abstract ideas of good citizenship and contributing to their communities.
Do people do altruistic things—including volunteering—because they are truly altruistic and selfless, or because they themselves receive some sort of benefit from every altruistic-seeming act?
University of Kansas psychologist Dan Batson, PhD, believes that true altruism exists as a motivational state with the goal of increasing another person’s welfare. He theorizes that such selflessness is based on the empathy people feel for others.
How To Benefit From Volunteering
1. Complete a brief self assessment of your unique skills to determine what you would like to contribute to others.
2. If you are an expert, would you like to share your skill set, or perform the opposite as a stress relief?
3. Know what your individual motive is for volunteering.
4. Identify opportunities available by researching the internet using keywords associated with your interest area.
5. Inform friends, co-workers, neighbors, members of an organization you belong to, or members of the community you interact with, that you are available to be a volunteer, and that you would like to be considered should they know of an opportunity in your interest field.
6. Communicate clearly how much time you can devote to a volunteer project.
7. Expect no financial benefits in return for volunteer efforts. This would defeat the purpose of volunteering and giving the gift of your time.
8. Be prepared to meet new people and exposure to varying perspectives to enhance your life and overall well being.
9. Be prepared to reduce your stress levels.
10. Be prepared to experience improvement in mood.
11. Be prepared to increase your individual motivation level (amount varies depending on individual depth and scope of volunteer efforts extended).
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Until Next Time: à Donf
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Lofton Consulting, Inc., Professional and Personal Training Seminars
Dr. L. R. Lofton, Psychologist, specializes in a Differentiation Based Approach to confronting and addressing life dilemmas to achieve personal success in the relationships we pursue. We get you implementing, not just planning for success and fulfillment.
