Are you looking for an activity or outlet that makes you feel happy and connected to the people around you? Volunteering with a charity or organization can help you to feel more grounded and fulfilled.

Spending your time helping others is also a great way to help yourself. In a recent volunteering study, researchers found that volunteers experience lower levels of depression, increased life satisfaction, and enhanced well-being.

A second study tracked women with multiple sclerosis (MS) who accepted positions as peer supporters for other MS patients. Three years after providing peer support, the study showed the volunteers felt increased self-esteem, self-acceptance, satisfaction, and feelings of mastery.  The volunteers had even better outcomes than the patients who received their counseling.

In addition to the above positive outcomes, here are a few of the ways that volunteering can lead to greater happiness:

#1. Making New Connections

Taking up a good cause is an excellent way to meet new people and feel more integrated into your community. Volunteers will feel the positive social benefits of working as a part of a team to achieve a common goal.

#2. Feeling Empathy

Empathy can be a transforming emotion. Being empathetic, listening, and helping others in your volunteer work can improve communication in your other relationships. After volunteering, you may be able to listen more closely to a co-worker, spouse, or child and better understand their point of view.

#3. Gaining Perspective

Taking time to help others is a great way to stop worrying about small personal problems and overcome negative self-talk. A volunteer position forces you to think about the bigger picture and consider life from a different point of view —as a part of a community. This experience will enable you to feel more gratitude for the gifts and loved ones in your life.

#4. Enhancing Self Esteem

Another benefit of volunteering is self-discovery and finding out what your talents and strengths are.  When you are called upon to manage events, listen, care for people, and provide support to an organization, you will feel you have more purpose. Many volunteers will gain enhanced self-esteem and confidence in their gifts and abilities.

If you’d like to begin volunteering your time to a good cause, then visit VounteerMatch.org. This site links volunteers and non-profits around the U.S.

It’s always best to work with an organization that you feel personally connected to. Remember to take it slow. If your volunteer work starts to feels like it has transitioned from “giving” to “sacrificing,” then you may need to scale back your hours.

Have you had a positive experience while volunteering for a favorite organization? Please share any of your tips or thoughts for new volunteers in the comments below.