You: A Force of Nature

Most mornings, I read myself this passage by George Bernard Shaw:

“This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”

I get a little queasy when I hear self-help authors sell their version of the “secrets to happiness,” especially when those so-called secrets involve changing our outer circumstances. Trying to control the conditions around us is a losing proposition.

Maybe instead of the “Self-Help” bookstore section, we need a “Help Others” section. We’d be better off individually and as a society if we focused more on serving others rather than ourselves.

Our capitalistic system has created paradoxical outcomes. It has lifted many out of poverty and built a better world by many metrics. Conversely, it’s also been exploitative and destructive when money and power are abused. Despite the good, our well-being has taken a hit.

The Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index 2023 data found that only 52.1% of people in the United States considered themselves thriving, compared to 55.5% in 2021 and 52.8% in 2022. The only other periods rated lower than 2023 were during the Great Recession (2008-2009) and the first outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020).

Why are so few people thriving?

Science shows that acts of service improve our mental state. Humans are social creatures, and most of us want to be and see ourselves as good and useful. Study after study links helping others to better overall well-being.

Can paying for a stranger’s coffee or helping a neighbor reduce stress?
Ohio State University tested three anti-anxiety methods over five weeks: small acts of kindness, planning enjoyable social activities and writing about challenging thoughts. All methods helped fight anxiety, but which was most effective?

According to the Greater Good Science Center, all three methods felt less depressed and anxious and more satisfied with life. However, those practicing random acts of kindness saw the greatest reductions in depression and anxiety and higher life satisfaction. Acts of kindness also improved people’s sense of social support more than other activities.

Well-being exists on a spectrum. At one end are those working in harsh conditions in lesser financially developed parts of the world, often the most ill-treated. At the other end, many feel unwell due to work pressures, stress, and anxiety—a common issue in the Western World and throughout corporate America. (NOTE: The amount of anxiety I see in workplaces is part of why I embarked in Somatic Experiencing training and offerings to help teams manage stress.)

There is room for improvement throughout our well-being spectrum. We shouldn’t conflate well-being with working less. Instead, we should focus our contributions differently.

Imagine redirecting twenty percent of our working week away from screens, social media, and redundant meetings to our communities and causes we care about. Imagine how our world would feel if we came together weekly to build abundant communities.

If everyone in the United States volunteered two hours a week, we’d create a ‘service workforce’ bigger than the U.S. military. The U.S. military contributes about 1.3 billion hours a year to national service. The able population of the U.S. volunteering two hours a week equates to over 5 billion hours. Imagine the possibilities.

Family, work, leisure, community—repeat.

We shouldn’t live an existence of continuous, intense labor. Leisure is essential for a good life. But living with a sense of purpose that inspires us to dedicate time to family, community, and planet is a beautiful way to live and the surest path to a better world.

We’ve built a world that uses us in the wrong way. Let’s change that.

If you want a more trusting team, a culture of belonging or a magnetic brand that attracts more of the right customers, I can help. If you'd like to explore if working together makes sense, drop me a line.

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