Do you volunteer but it doesn’t really light you up? Maybe it feels like work to you, just another thing you need to get done. Maybe you’re feeling baffled or even frustrated because you should feel happy and satisfied because you’re helping out. After all, you’re making a difference, right?
If you’re volunteering or giving to a charity or otherwise seeking to make a positive impact but you don’t have the sense of meaning, significance and satisfaction you were hoping for, I may know why. Following are the two main reasons we see people feeling dissatisfied with the work they’re doing as a volunteer.
It’s Not Your Passion
Usually, when you volunteer you’re helping someone else with what they are passionate about. Someone took the time and effort to get clear on something they want to do. Now you’re helping them with it. But it may not be what you are passionate about.
I was doing some good work with John in Simply Great Lives a couple years ago. Then I got in touch with my passion to wake people up to their impact and I started using that passion to change peoples lives. Now I am way more engaged and committed and enjoying my work here. I found that helping someone else, even my husband, with his passion wasn’t very satisfying.
You’re Not Connected to the Results
Being disconnected from people is a common problem with many volunteer opportunities and charities. People who donate or volunteer often are not directly connected with the people whose lives are being impacted. They don’t get to see the change so they don’t get to experience the satisfaction that comes with helping people change their lives.
On a similar note, many volunteer opportunities focus on doing an activity rather than on creating specific results. Many times, lives are not really being changed. Help is being rendered but people are not being empowered to change their own circumstances.
If What You’re Doing Doesn’t Light You Up…
Take some time to assess what you’re really passionate about. Pick a difference you want to make that you care deeply about. Stay connected to the people whose lives you’re seeking to change. When you do these things, you will experience the meaning, significance in satisfaction you desire.
If you would like to talk to one of us, Rena or John, we have made our calendar available to you. Click here to schedule a time to talk about the possibilities for you and your impact. We want you to be stoked about making an amazing difference in the lives of other people.
