In this episode (and the full essay), we explore the restorative, grounding, energizing impact of doing good — especially when life and work feel heavy. I share why community service isn’t just noble or altruistic; it’s a deeply practical strategy for sustaining ourselves as leaders, employees, and human beings.

Drawing from my monthly volunteer trips with students to the local food bank — sorting frozen foods in a room cold enough to make you question your life choices — I talk about how these moments have become the most joyful part of my month.Not because they’re easy, but because they feel real.

Service offers something work often can’t:clarity, connection, and the reminder that we are capable of contributing meaningfully, even in small ways.

In this reflection, we explore:

* Why doing good can be more energizing than traditional “self-care”

* How service recenters your priorities and quiets the internal noise

* Why helping others creates momentum when everything else feels stuck

* The emotional reset that comes from stepping into a role where you give rather than perform

* The leadership benefits of grounding yourself in something bigger than the daily grind

* How joy and purpose can re-enter your life through the side door of service

This isn’t a piece about being noble; it’s a piece about staying human.About why doing good for others often ends up being the fuel that keeps us going through everything else — the deadlines, the hard conversations, the long weeks, the decisions, the weight.

Key takeaway:When the world feels overwhelming, doing good gives you back a sense of agency.It reminds you that while you can’t fix everything, you can make something better — and sometimes that’s enough to keep going.

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