Finding Yourself in Service

Finding Yourself in Service

By Abby Johnson and Christian Howard

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." - Mahatma Gandhi
We asked our brothers to respond to this quote last Wednesday. Here's what a few had to say:

"Even doing the most monotonous and mundane activities can give you a sense of a natural high, once
you take the time to think about who doesn't have to do this task after you complete it, and once you
look up at the sky hear the laughter of others near you, and breathe the air to understand that you're
truly alive, and you have a purpose, a real purpose."

"You can try to find yourself by thinking too hard on the topic you become absorbed within your own
world and get lost in your own thoughts. When helping others, your mind is allowed to expand. You
are allowed to love, and your heart and mind become open to new ideas. Eventually you find yourself
without knowing it. The people you volunteer with and the people you volunteer for define your
personality into something you could never think of on your own."

"To become a true self we must devote ourselves to the goods of others in a selfless manner."

"Helping other people helps you figure out who you are. It also makes you feel good about yourself
because you can really make a difference. One person can really make a difference, which is cool."

"Sometimes when you're at your lowest and you need a pick me up, help out others. I know when
I'm at my lowest, and I feel like the worst is here, I give service and help out others. When I do this,
I remember why life is beautiful and why everyday is worth living. Seeing a smile on the face of
someone reminds people why they love life and why people are good."

"Service is about immersing yourself in what situation they (people) are in and how they are dealing
with it."

"Serving others helps to increase human connections. More people, more ideas. It helps to find those
whom you resonate with, and learn more about them, and hence yourself."

"Through service you think, 'Why am I doing this?'" You look at the cause, at what you are doing
and think further. I end up thinking, "I'm making a difference I am putting a smile on someone's face,
easing the burden off of another's shoulders." That is why I serve, to lose myself to find someone else,
to make a DIFFERENCE."

"You are not important. It is those around you that matter. Serve others in every aspect of life."

"Lose yourself in the service, the moment, you want it, better never let it go!
You only get one shot do not miss your chance to blow
This service opportunity comes once in a lifetime!"
- Eminem APO Bro

"It means that service will make you happy. If you are feeling overwhelmed,depressed, or existential,
helping others will help you realize that you matter. You will see people with biggerproblems than you
and make a difference to them. It is your cure. - Stephen Ayers
'Those who can do, do. Those who can do more, volunteer.' - Rodney Erickson"

"When I do service it makes me remember that the world doesn't revolve around me and my problems.
It helps put things in perspective and makes me feel a lot more grateful for what I have and grateful that
I can help others."

"We are here to serve each other. What are we without one another?"