Commercial Integrator February 2023 - 8

AV BRAINS & BRAWN
Volunteering is a Win-Win Situation
If you ask a volunteer, they'll tell you they get back so much more than they could ever provide.
By Alan C. Brawn
SUFFICE IT TO SAY that the world in which
I grew up was dramatically different from
the world today. I was born in 1945, grew
up in the 1950s and 1960s, and started
working full time in the 1970s. I pride
myself on not living in the past, clinging
to nostalgic memories to comfort me. We
need to live each day, one day at a time;
we mustn't be mired in the past or thinking
too far into the aspirational future.
The only constant is change. We all
know that to be true - and we experience
it daily. Comparatively, " back in
the day, " change was slower. In every
aspect, life evolved in a more gradual
manner. Today, by contrast, change in
some form is daily - and sometime even
more frequent than that! This translates to
a hectic, sometimes frantic existence. It
also equates to the urgent, often uneasy
feeling of " needing " immediate responses
that, until the turn of the century, we
just didn't experience.
Never Enough
There never seems to be enough time in a
day, week or month simply to do our jobs,
let alone to do anything else. Research has
shown that there are unintended (and often
unrecognized) negative consequences
of having to immediately and constantly
react to, and adapt to, change. Our health,
our relationships and our professional lives
all evince the negative effects. So, when
I write about the issue of volunteering,
I wouldn't be surprised if most readers
bring up having a lack of time to do anything
more than they already are. I get it...I
really do.
However, there are things to consider
before you flip the channel. My position
is simple: Volunteering for something
that is meaningful to you and others can
be a win-win situation. You personally
win and the cause or organization for
which you're volunteering benefits too.
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Ultimately, volunteering is about doing something for the greater good...about
doing something bigger than you are as an individual.
If you stay tuned for the entire article, the
reasoning should become clear.
But first, an aside: The following is
based on research from the American
Psychological Association (APA), as
well as books and research work from
Dr. Stephen Trzeciak and Dr. Anthony
Mazzarelli, authors of Compassionomics:
The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that
Caring Makes a Difference. A data-driven
book, it shows that doctors who are compassionate
are associated with patients
having better outcomes. Their new book
is called Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically
Proven Ways that Serving Others is the
Best Medicine for Yourself.
Proven Benefits of Volunteering
Research conclusively shows that volunteering
provides many proven benefits
both for mental health and physical health.
› Volunteering helps counteract
stress, anger and anxiety. The socialcontact
aspect of helping and working
with others can have a positive effect on
your psychological well-being. There is
no better stress reliever than a meaningful
connection with another person.
Commercial Integrator FEBRUARY 2023
› Volunteering fights depression.
Volunteering establishes regular contact
with others and helps provide a solid support
system. This goes a long way toward
protecting you from depression.
› Volunteering can make you happier.
Scientists measuring hormones and brain
activity have discovered that being helpful
to others delivers immense pleasure. Human
beings are hard-wired in their DNA to
give to others. In short, the more that we
give, the happier that we'll feel.
› Volunteering boosts your
self-confidence. When you're doing
good for others, it provides a natural sense
of accomplishment. Your volunteer role
can give you a sense of pride and identity.
And the better you feel about yourself, the
more likely you are to have a positive view
of your life and your goals' attainability.
› Volunteering produces a sense of
purpose. You can find new meaning and
direction in your life by helping others.
Whatever your " life situation " might be,
volunteering can help you take your mind
off your own concerns - at least momentarily
- while keeping you mentally stimulated
and adding more zest to your life.
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Commercial Integrator February 2023

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