Your Success is in Your Service

Last week we looked at the harmful effects of being a people pleaser.

People pleasing comes from a place of insecurity or low self-worth.

With our understanding of that and its harmful effects on our life, this week we turn our attention to genuine help and support through a desire to serve.

Have you ever felt like something is missing, even as you chase achievement after achievement?

Perhaps you’ve experienced the hollow feeling that arises when accomplishments don’t quite satisfy.

Let’s explore why true success is often hidden in a simple yet profound concept: service.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi

This truth is both timeless and powerful. When we focus on serving others, we find clarity, purpose, and fulfillment that personal achievement alone can rarely bring.

Here’s why your success is deeply intertwined with your ability to serve and make a meaningful impact.

1. Service Provides Purpose and Direction

Success without purpose is like a driving with no destination.

However, when you center your goals on how you can serve others, your path becomes clear, and your steps become intentional.

Think of success not just as a personal milestone but as a journey that adds value to others.

This outward focus grounds you, helping you overcome setbacks because the goal is bigger than yourself.

Consider This: What are some areas where you can bring value to others? List three ways your unique skills can address a need around you.

2. Service Fuels Authentic Connection

In a world that’s increasingly disconnected, genuine connections are invaluable.

By focusing on service, you cultivate authentic relationships that inspire loyalty and trust.

These relationships are more than transactional; they’re transformative, opening doors and creating a network of mutual support that propels you forward.

Quick Practice: Start small. Look for ways to be of help daily—whether it’s lending a listening ear, mentoring a colleague, or simply expressing appreciation.

Notice how these small acts of service bring a sense of community and fulfillment.

3. Service Encourages Personal Growth

When you serve, you’re often placed outside your comfort zone, stretching your patience, empathy, and resilience.

Service requires us to grow, to give more than we thought possible, and in that process, we often discover strengths we didn’t know we had.

Growth Exercise: Reflect on the times you served others and felt challenged. What qualities did you cultivate in those moments? How did serving help you become more resilient and resourceful?

4. Service Brings Lasting Fulfillment

Success pursued solely for personal gain tends to leave us wanting more.

True fulfillment comes from knowing that your efforts positively impact others.

When you see the real difference your service makes, it fuels a sense of purpose that far outlasts fleeting achievements.

Success Journal: This week, journal about the positive effects your work or daily actions have on others. This practice keeps you grounded in gratitude and reminds you of the broader impact of your efforts.

Find Your Service, Find Your Success

When success is aligned with service, you shift from a mindset of “What can I achieve?” to “How can I contribute?” And that’s the true source of lasting success.

Your skills, experiences, and perspective are uniquely yours, making you capable of impacting others in ways no one else can.

Take Action: Service Challenge

Reflect on one area where you can add value to someone else’s journey.

This week, set a small, specific goal around that service, and approach it with dedication.

You may be surprised at how the simple act of serving can bring clarity, purpose, and joy.

As you step into this mindset, remember that your success is not just what you achieve, but the legacy you build through service.

Let this guide you as you continue to grow and make a difference.

For daily inspiration and strategies like this, join my private community, The SOAR Collective. I look forward to seeing you there!