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Whether you’ve climbed the corporate ladder, juggled work and family, or found fulfillment in a role you loved, your career has likely played a significant part in shaping who you are. But there comes a point in all our lives where we stop and take a step back and have to ask ourselves a crucial question: “Is my current job still serving me in the way I want it to?”
It’s not necessarily a question of making any immediate changes, but rather it’s about reassessing your path with clarity and purpose. It’s about recognizing that your values, passions, and priorities may have evolved, and that’s okay. The key is to pause, reflect, and decide what’s next with intention.
Oftentimes, women lose sight of what makes them happy because they’re so busy making other people happy. Creating space for volunteer work and community involvement can be a strong catalyst for creating a greater sense of purpose in your life. Read on for why.
Holly Hurd, author of The Life-Changing Power of One Question
Here’s How Volunteering and Giving Back Can Level Up Your Life:
You Get to Do More Of What You Love
If you volunteer for an organization with a cause or interest that is near and dear to your heart, you’ll automatically get to do more of what you love and share it with others. For example, a friend of mine loves tennis and wants to share that love with others. She volunteers with a nonprofit youth development organization that provides tennis instruction and educational support to underserved youth. As a volunteer, she’s been instrumental in reviving the yearly gala after the pandemic and raises hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the organization. She’s found purpose centered around her great love of tennis and wanting to share the sport with others.
Research organizations in your area that align with your existing interests and go from there. You may be surprised when you contact them about how many opportunities there actually are to get involved. You can always start small and build up to a leadership role if you enjoy the organization.
You’ll Meet New People
Here’s my theory. If happiness is the ultimate currency and the number one thing everyone strives for, and relationships provide more happiness than success, money, AND material things, it’s time to pursue relationships in every area of your life. And how better to meet a new network of people with shared interests than to volunteer for a cause that inspires you?
Make it a point to connect in some way with the people you come into contact with. Completing a volunteer task or planning an event may be enough of a connection to get to know people, but if all else fails, you can ask a connection question. It can be as simple as commenting on the weather. Everyone cares about the weather, even if we can’t do anything about it. But by acknowledging someone and saying, “Beautiful Day, right?” you are showing them that you see and acknowledge them and opens the door for more dialogue.
Your Life Will Have More Purpose
We all go through stages in our lives. Whether you’ve become an empty nester, or you’re going through a divorce, or you are retiring from work, you have space in your life for new beginnings and new chances at fulfillment. According to Psychology Today, finding purpose in normal, everyday passions and activities is a strong indicator of connection and happiness.
If you are at an inflection point in life, it’s important to ask yourself questions to find what will make you happier. Many times, it’s something we did earlier in life, prior to having children or work commitments. Most women I’ve spoken with say they have given up something that used to give them so much joy. What is that thing for you? Is there a way to channel that interest into a volunteer opportunity that will not only fill your spare time but also provide more purpose in your life?
Holly Hurd is a trailblazing entrepreneur who made her mark on Wall Street at 25 and has been featured in USA Today, Futures Magazine, and Fortune’s “People to Watch.” She’s the founder of VentureMom, a platform empowering women to launch businesses from passion and purpose. A sought-after expert and speaker, Holly shares real-world advice drawn from her own journey. Her forthcoming book, The Life-Changing Power of One Question: Unlock Purpose, Direction, and Connection with One Powerful Ask (Confidence Building, Find your Purpose).
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