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In this week's challenge you must Serve Others. Volunteering your time, money, or energy to help others doesn’t just make the world better—it also makes you better. Studies indicate that the very act of giving back to the community boosts your happiness, health, and sense of well-being.Serving others enables you to see beyond your own needs and troubles. Placing your focus on other people’s needs makes have a better perspective of things. Your mindset is broadened, even increasing your confidence level. Helping people go through their hard times can build your confidence. Putting other people’s priorities first, helps you forget about our own problems for a while. You are able to fully focus on helping the person achieve their goal by servitude. You will come out of the experience feeling happier that you were able to help.
- More happiness
According to Stephen G. Post, professor of preventative medicine at Stony Brook University in New York and author of The Hidden Gifts of Helping, a part of our brain lights up when we help others. That part of our brain then doles out feel-good chemicals like dopamine, and possibly serotonin. According to Post, "These chemicals help us feel joy and delight -- helper's high." A common reaction is that "some people feel more tranquil, peaceful, serene; others, warmer and more trusting." When we volunteer we often give ourselves deeper purpose and meaning and that nearly always leads to greater happiness.
- Reduce stress
When we help others our bodies release a hormone called oxytocin, which buffers stress and helps us maintain social trust and tranquility. Along with oxytocin are the other chemicals like dopamine, which is a mood-elevating neurotransmitter. These drugs tend to push aside negative emotions and reduce the stress level.
- Relief from pain
A study done by Pain Management Nursing reports that on a scale from 0 to 10 that people's pain ratings dropped from nearly 6 to below 4 after attending a volunteer training program and leading discussion groups for fellow sufferers. Volunteering takes our mind off our pain and also makes us feel more in control of it.
- Longer lifespan
Over 40 international studies confirm that volunteering can add years to your life. In fact, current studies suggest up to a 22% reduction in mortality rates! How much do we have to do? Studies confirm that a regular commitment of as little as 25 hours per year is beneficial.
- Lower blood pressure
A study done by Psychology & Aging reports those adults over 50 who volunteered for 200 hours in the past year were 40 percent less likely to have hypertension than non-volunteers. It is believed this is accomplished because of the lower stress, and the effects of being active, social and altruistic.
- Reduce mild depression
A study of alcoholics going through AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) points out that those who volunteered to help others were twice as likely to stay clean a year later and their depression rates were correspondingly lower as well. Plus, in many cases mild depression is linked to isolation. Volunteering helps to keep a person in regular contact with others and to help develop a social support system.
- Benefit your career
volunteering for the right reasons can so turn your life around that the benefits will extend to your work. Raynolds says, "Remember, when you become involved, when you lead with your heart as well as your head, the result is always good." Instead of feeling depressed or unfulfilled at work, Raynolds is convinced that you will feel more happy, confident and energized when you find something that makes you feel generous and purposeful -- and that of course will spread to every single area of your life.
Peace of mind is a state of mental and emotional balance and calm, free of worries, fears or stress. In this state, the mind is quiet, and you experience a gentle sense of happiness and freedom. Such peaceful moments are not as rare as you may think. You have experienced them at times when you were engaged in some kind of absorbing or interesting activity. Here are a few examples:
- Give food
- Donate for Childern's Education
- Help needy with donation of medicine, doctor's bills or other medical help
- Do not hurt any living bieng in the slightest degree
10 Simple ways to Serve others - Learn more here.
4 Amazing Health Benefits Of Helping Others - Learn more here.
This challenge was closed on 8/11/2019