Service and Well – Being Fulfillment
As I approach the final month of my year-long Foundations project, the focus on service serves as a capstone, emphasizing the importance of contributing to the well-being of others. Throughout the project, I’ve explored various aspects aimed at self-improvement like fitness, productivity, and organization.
However, service shifts the lens from self-optimization to contributing meaningfully to the world. This month, my goal is to highlight how service can be an integral part of a fulfilling life and to explore the different dimensions of altruism. The concept of service is deeply rooted in many of the world’s religions and philosophies, often considered a cornerstone of a good life.
Most people agree that helping others is not only good but also beneficial for personal happiness, as it fills our lives with meaningful pursuits. However, there’s a paradox in altruism.
Many benefits of service come from genuine intentions rather than ulterior motives. For instance, joining a charity solely for networking may not bring the same satisfaction as being genuinely motivated by the cause. Yet, some of the most socially beneficial activities don’t always align with what provides personal satisfaction.
For example, a lawyer working in high-paying corporate roles and donating substantial amounts to effective charities might contribute more to societal good than a public defender.
This raises the question: What truly counts as service?
Is it about volunteering time, or can financial contributions also be considered service?
Does helping friends and family count, or must service be directed towards strangers who cannot reciprocate?
ML approach this month is to cast a wide net, recognizing that different types of service offer various benefits. Whether it’s being an attentive family member, volunteering, or strategic philanthropy, each form of service plays a unique role, including charitable donations applications.
When assessing my own altruism, I notice a gap between my ideals and actions. I haven’t volunteered regularly since university, and my philanthropic contributions have dwindled due to financial pressures and uncertainties about my business’s future. Although I like to believe my work benefits others, the impact of online content is hard to quantify.
ML consumption choices, like eating seafood despite believing in the benefits of vegetarianism, also pose ethical dilemmas. This gap between potential good and actual accomplishment seems uncomfortably large.
The opportunity for improvement is significant. Just as someone who has never exercised can easily improve their health, I can enhance my service contributions with effort. Here’s what I plan to do: ① Increase charitable donations.
Given my resources, donating to cost-effective charities could have a substantial impact. The concept of effective altruism highlights the importance of maximizing the benefits of charitable contributions.
② Volunteer regularly. I aim to commit to volunteering at least once a week, recognizing that this may require flexibility to align with organizational needs, including charitable donations applications.
③ Be generous with friends, family, and community. While helping close contacts isn’t entirely selfless, it’s crucial for cultivating a service-oriented mindset.
I plan to actively seek opportunities to assist those around me.
④ Enhance the impact of my work. Improving the quality of my advice and ideas is essential, as it determines the net benefit of my career.
Adopting rigorous epistemic and communication practices can help ensure my work’s positive contribution. These ambitions are too extensive to achieve in just one month, so I’ll focus on increasing charitable giving, finding volunteering opportunities, and being more active in helping others. Towards the end of the month, I’ll reflect on my research and experiences in service.
Service, in its many forms, is a powerful tool for personal growth and societal improvement. By embracing a broad view of altruism, we can contribute meaningfully to the world and enrich our own lives in the process.
