Funky To Fabulous: Volunteering For Virgins -- A First-Timers Guide To Giving

Do you have a pal that pooh-poohs the concept of volunteering? Here are some reasons to discover the luscious experience of serving your fellow humans.

Rx for Better Health

Who knew that volunteering is good for you. Science is beginning to discover that are concrete physical, and emotional benefits to giving to others. Perhaps, you have a vague notion that volunteering is "good for the soul" but have little, if any, concrete evidence that philanthropy could be good for your health.

In More Give to Live, Douglas Lawson cites research that shows how helping others leads to enhanced health and emotional well-being. Numerous studies report that those involved in ongoing volunteer programs have an enhanced immune system, improved cardiovascular circulation as well as better sleep patterns. Emotionally those involved in philanthropic work sense of control over one's life and circumstances, increased ability to cope with crisis as well as stronger feelings of personal satisfaction, compassion and empathy.

The Helper's High

If you did service on the National Day of service you may have just had a brush with 'Helper's High' yourself. If you were like me you felt a great rush of feeling good from doing good.

If not you may have felt this phenomenon another time.

How do you feel when you finish a long run or a tough workout? Until the pain sinks in you probably feel fantastic. Strenuous exercise releases endorphins. That release creates an elated feeling known as the runners high. Have you ever left a day of working with your favorite good cause with more energy than you began with? That could be due to a similar endorphin response.

A charity in New York City recently conducted a survey of 3,300 volunteers. Many experienced feelings of euphoria while being involved in their service project. The volunteers compared the experience to the runner's high - when a person runs and exerts, but instead of feeling more stressed, one feels more relaxed and joyous.

Anti-Aging Too!

Sure, giving makes you feel better. It may be a key factor in living longer as well. Dr. Stephanie Brown and her colleagues at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan conducted an important study recently. Dr. Brown discovered and her team tracked 423 older couples over a 5-year period. The people who reported giving no support to others were more than twice as likely to die during the five years of the study as those who helped others. The simple act of giving to neighbors, a spouse, relative or friends gave people a 50% better chance of living longer. Her study gives clear evidence that giving is good for your health.

How has serving impacted you? Please let me know!

***

Ask Eli a question at [e-mail] or go to www.elidavidson.com to tell me how you have let go of yo-yo dieting.

Eli Davidson is a nationally recognized executive coach and motivational
speaker.

Her book, "Funky to Fabulous: Surefire Success Stories for The Savvy, Sassy
and Swamped", (Oak Grove Publishing) has won three national book awards.

Comments

[suetibu]

Thank you for the article,

Susan
http://trygivingback.blogspot.com

[cayuse]

I cannot give free service. I had some great problems with all this KUMBYA stuff.

Now that we have Pre-Emptive attack Pakistand. Serve on. I will follow my teachers and improve myself and those I come into contact with. Supporting Murder against the laws of the Constitution and My teacher and my own convictions is it. Its over. Overwhelm yourselves materially. This is not the Laws of Nature and Nature's GOD

Unless we stop, because it did not work, as if it did not already, and go the right direction. Righteousness is not 1/2 it is 100%. 2 wrongs to not make 1 right

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

It sounds as though you have such deep compassion. What if kindness were an act of service? What if being a good listener were service? What if caring for your neighbor were an act of service?

I could certainly be wrong, but my bet is that you are already bieng of service on a daily basis.

Blessings to you,
Eli

[aceholiday]

you may have missed the point. nowhere in the article does it mention violent service in the armed forces. it's talking about helping people. try (re)reading the article. great article eli.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Eli, Excellent blog!

There is a wonder about serving that is healing. It helps divert our need to be self-centered. So much in life is about ourselves. It is a relief to be giving and helping another.

When Deb and I volunteered at Hospice it was heartwarming and humbling. Service is a gift everyone should be part of it soothes the soul.

In service,

Ed

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Ed,
Thank you so very much! Your generosity of Spirit always touches my Soul. Being on the road at a conference I am finding your wonderful suggestion of smiling so useful. Just like the rest of us, the attendees (attorneys ) are lifted by this simple act of service. Mamma mia, what a blessing for us all to take the attention off ourselves and contribute to other.s

You contribute to my well being every week!

In gratitude,
Eli

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Eli,

Divine title!

Giving my time as a volunteer has always been one of the most enjoyable, liberating and rewarding experiences I ever get to have. There is the community aspect. We share the responsibility for getting the job done. Then there is the satisfaction of seeing the end result - an improvement, a gift, that might not otherwise have occurred.

I very much appreciated reading your post - thank you!
Anne

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Anne,
In the rushing, dashing hurry of life, even the simplest act service is a time of calm and renewal. (I am traveling, at a conference and certainly in the zipping around mode.)

Thank you so much for such an inspiration. Our growing community of heart and service is a profound blessing. Your contribution is such a warm, loving embrace.

Thank you for sharing your gifts. They bless us all
Eli

[MishkaRene]

Eli your message is a great one! I loved the catchy title and think it only enables one to see that their own lives are not so bad when you do something good for a cause! We need more helping and being of service in order to move ahead!

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

HI MishkaRene,
What if we made Service the new.... Sexy! I thank you so much, and hope the post will help you "seduce" a few pals into the superb joy of service.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Eli,

Leave it to you to come up with a "sexy" title! I love it! And ain't it the truth!

Making a difference just plain "feels good"! And "doing it" in the company of others also doing it just increases the flow of endorphins and makes for an exciting "high soup".

It was thrilling for me to participate with families, youngsters and oldsters alike, on MLK day and see how the old saying about TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More was right there on display. In 3 hours, we cleaned up a park, build raised garden beds and planted vegetables at a senior center in my area. It was so much fun to witness everyone, and I mean everyone, doing their part.

This is one kind of virginity I hope we'll erase at a very young age. Those children get to grow up in the context of giving as a way of life, if we'll all just keep it going.

Thanks for bringing your original and always fresh voice to this chorus.

Love and blessings,
Judith

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

Dearest Judith,
Oh yes!! In the words of Harry Met Sally......"Yes!! Yes!! YES!!!!"

I am thinking of your wonderful day with TEAM and how alluring the glow of doing good really is. The Helper's High is one of the best feelings around. Being part of group engaged in serving never fails to open my heart. We form a bond that blesses us all.

You are a continual blessing to our world. Thank you!
Eli

[Jason Mannino - Huffpost Blogger]

Eli:

Wow, thanks for pointing out some real tangible personal benefits for volunteering. Hopefully, it will help to motivate more and more people to get out there and support each other.

Love and LIght
Jason

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Jason,
Thank you, I am so enjoying your wonderful posts on the power of being SELF centered, and believe that we are cut from the same cloth!

I hope that share their gifts and abilities in service. Our world will be so much better for it!

In Loving Gratitude,
Eli