When thinking about natural mood boosters that occur as a benefit of our actions, I think of service. As a speech pathologist I know this first hand. Working in healthcare the ultimate goal is improving someone’s quality of life. As human beings, each person’s health is independent of another even though they may share the same diagnosis. Therefore, each patient I see requires a personalized approach. Yet, with an individualized treatment plan the results will vary patient to patient. When I am able to provide a patient searching for healing with a solution that works for their personal situation, not only are they able to regain some small part of their life, but I receive the benefit of fulfillment as well. Making others happy makes me happy. Those are the good days.
I am fortunate to have the attribute of service as part of my career. But I have also noticed this in my personal life. My first experience with this was when I was a little girl at Disney World. My family was coming out of an exhibit and an elderly woman behind me peeled the skin right off her forearm on door somehow. I remember how good it felt when I was able to offer her a bandaid and help her put it on her arm. The benefit from this simple gesture actually fulfilled two people that day. And these simple gestures are what Jesus is asking us to do. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brother, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40. And we can trust that when Jesus asks us to do something it is for our own good. Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. Proverbs 19:17.
A friend once told me when you deny someone their offer of assistance you are stealing their blessing. I think of this often. Especially when I have offered my time and energies to help or support someone, and get denied the opportunity. I’m sure we can all think of a time this has happened and can almost feel the rejection still today. Next time someone you trust offers to help you or support you, remember service is two fold. Your response not only affects you, but the giver as well.
We benefit from allowing others to help us but the undeniable mood boost you receive by being the giver is where I want to encourage you today. I understand stepping outside of our own lives when we are the ones hurting, and searching for ways to support others isn’t going to be easy. Start small. Start today. Find one way you can benefit someone else today. Maybe it’s opening a door for someone. Maybe it’s allowing another car to go first at the stop sign, or offering a compliment to someone. The ideas are inexhaustible. There are bigger ways to be of service as well. Things like volunteering your time for a cause that you feel is valuable. Maybe that’s a senior living facility, or a pet shelter. Maybe it’s environmentally based. There are websites built around assisting you in finding a path to give back. But finding one small way to serve someone else, will be one step closer to healing yourself. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39