Service and Personal Growth Benefits
As I approach the final month of my year-long Foundations project, I’ve decided to focus on service. The previous months were dedicated to personal development—fitness, productivity, and financial management, among others.
However, this last month centers on contributing to the well-being of others. It serves as a reminder that the essence of life isn’t solely self-optimization but also making a meaningful impact on the world. According to a study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies (2023), individuals who engage in altruistic behavior report higher levels of life satisfaction and happiness, especially regarding personal growth, especially regarding altruism.
Service is a universal concept, revered in nearly all world religions and philosophies. It’s considered a key component of a well-lived life.
There’s a paradox in altruism, however. The benefits—like having meaningful goals and social recognition—often stem from selfless intentions, especially regarding personal growth. Join a charity solely for networking, and you’ll likely feel less fulfilled than if you were genuinely committed to the cause.
Conversely, some of the most beneficial activities for society might not align with personal satisfaction. For instance, a high-earning lawyer donating most of their income may contribute more to society than a public defender assisting less needy clients, highlighting the complex nature of what truly counts as service.
Altruistic contributions and personal growth
What constitutes genuine service?
Is it enough to work at a high-paying job and donate excess income, or must one volunteer time and energy?
Does helping friends and family count, or is true service rendered only to strangers who can’t reciprocate?
ML perspective is to adopt a pluralistic view, recognizing that different forms of service likely offer different benefits. While being an attentive parent, volunteering, and philanthropy are all valuable, they contribute in varied ways.
Therefore, a broad approach to service may be the most beneficial, aligning with the idea of diverse motivations for helping others. When assessing my altruism, I find a gap between my ideals and reality in the context of personal growth, especially regarding altruism. I don’t currently volunteer, though I used to during university.
ML past efforts were often with student groups or community events rather than focusing on those in genuine need. Financially, I donate less now than before, partly due to the pressures of raising children and living in an expensive city, and partly due to fears about my business’s longevity.
Still, given my circumstances, this reduction feels stingy, including personal growth applications. Furthermore, the impact of my career is uncertain. Unlike doctors or teachers, the value of my work as an online content creator is difficult to quantify, making it challenging to assess its true contribution.
Service improvement and personal growth
The good news is that with a significant gap between potential and action, improvement is often attainable. Just as it’s easier to enhance fitness when starting from a sedentary lifestyle, there’s room for growth in service contributions.
I hope to improve my overall service impact with focused effort. Here’s my plan: ① Donate more money. Given my relative financial stability, I should contribute more to highly effective charities.
Effective altruism suggests this is one of the most impactful actions I can take (Wikipedia, Effective Altruism, 2025), especially regarding personal growth.
② Volunteer regularly. Ideally, I’d volunteer weekly, though aligning this with organizational needs might be challenging initially.
③ Be more generous with friends, family, and community. While helping those close to me isn’t entirely selfless, it’s crucial for developing a service-oriented mindset.
④ Enhance the impact of my work, particularly in personal growth. This aspect is complex but potentially the most significant.
The quality of my advice and ideas is crucial. If my insights are beneficial, my work positively impacts readers. Improving the quality of my learning and epistemic practices can increase the likelihood that my career contributes positively.
Charitable Donations and Community Service
Given the broad scope of these ambitions, focusing on specific actions is essential. For now, I’ll concentrate on the first three: resuming charitable donations, seeking volunteer opportunities, and actively helping in my community, especially regarding altruism.
Toward the month’s end, I’ll reflect on my experiences and research in this area, assessing how my service efforts have unfolded. By aligning personal growth with service, I hope to achieve a more fulfilling and balanced life, contributing positively to the world around me.
