Why Contributing Makes You Feel More Included
META: Contributions are one of the easiest ways for us to feel like we are a part of something. Why, though? Why does contributing make us feel more included? Find out here.
In the world we live in, it can feel hard to feel part of society. The pace of the world and the sheer number of contrasting opinions and lifestyles can make it difficult to find our place. When you feel this way, it can be a wise idea to contribute to something. What you contribute is entirely up to you, of course. It could be a charity, a local event, a local sports team, or simply anything that you feel connected to.
Contributing to something can give you that sense of place, and it can ease your longing to fit in somewhere in this confusing, complex world. Why, though, does contributing to something – anything – help you to feel more included?
You See Your Voice Matters
When you contribute to something, people will listen to you and give you the chance to make your point heard. That can feel immensely satisfying; it can make you feel like you are being listened to and that your opinion on a subject is important. This can build self-confidence, and it can help you to realise that you do have something to offer to the things that you care about most.
For most people, simply knowing that people listen to and respect you is gratifying.
You Will Meet New People
Contributing to something means that you will need to interact with others. It could be something as simple as giving to charity, where you will meet the charity workers who benefit from your contribution. It could be helping out with a community project, or assisting with some kind of arts and crafts event such as a local musical or play.
Either way, you will benefit from the joy of meeting new people. You will hear opinions that you have never heard before, and find like-minded people who you can find a personal connection with long-term.
You Shape Something To Be Better
One of the main benefits of contributing to something, though, is knowing that you can help to shape its direction. Even if you only make a small contribution, in years to come you can look back and see this as a seminal moment where you genuinely helped something – or someone – improve.
That can be quite a gratifying feeling. It also gives you a sense of your own place in the world, as you can see where your skills and your personality most effectively blend to the benefit of the people or project you assist.
You Understand Your Strengths
When we throw ourselves into the heart of contribution, we soon realise what we are best at. It can be hard to find out where your skills most naturally apply without having something to commit your time and effort to. By contributing to something, you have to use the skills and strengths that you have for the betterment of that particular experience.
That can be a very enjoyable feeling to have. At the same time, it can give you a sense of understanding of the skills you have and where they can be best applied, both for yourself and for future contributions.
Conclusion
The above can help you to see why contributing to something can be a positive feeling. By helping you to meet others, find your own personal strengths, make a positive impact, and understand that you are someone worth listening to, contributing helps you to feel more included in the society we live within. That might not sound like it matters, but it can be incredibly important to your long-term well-being.
