Using Your Suffering to Live a Life of Purpose, Part 2

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Part 1 of this series discussed the condition of a suffering soul and a conduit to transform the pain, volunteer work.  Giving your time to others in  a position similar to your own can be a healing balm to your heart.  Volunteer work is also a restorative tool for people suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). 

!!!Caution!!!

Volunteering too soon after a difficult situation can be overwhelming.  Discuss your situation with the Volunteer coordinator of your chosen program or a healthcare professional before you start. 

How Volunteering Heals Your Suffering

A compromised soul is imprisoned.  If you are in this state, you will not be able to function at your full capacity because shame covers you like a transparent blanket.  This blanket of limitations prevents you from interacting with people in an honest and healthy manner because you fear they can see the dirty secrets of your past.  You are burdened with a false belief that others will be repulsed by you if they knew what happened to you.  These lies seen through shame lock up your purpose and volunteering can be a key to freedom.

volunteering connects you with mentors.  Reputable organizations with good leadership will have dedicated people that have an understanding and compassion for your/their cause.  This inspirational influence adds a dimension of hope to motivate a helpless soul.  It also unites people and erases loneliness and fear.

Volunteering gives a senseless act meaning and fills your being with purpose.  Your message to the people who hurt you says you refuse to be a victim of your circumstances.  You begin to touch people connected to your cause and they are Empowered by your example, this brings Peace to your lives and makes the world a better place.  The blanket of shame that once contained you is slowly lifted and your life is lived for a purpose bigger than you.  You are no longer contained in your small world but released from bondage because you become determined to make a difference. 

Suffering a traumatic event(s) can leave a person feeling victimized. This victimized mentality is another barrier between meaninglessness and purpose. Becoming a volunteer energizes people and allows them to feel valued.  When a person feels they are needed the shy unneeded persona of a victim is removed. This allows for a person to speak and take risks for another person's well-being. These acts transfer back to the broken soul of the individual and slowly mends the wounds of the soul. A victimized person can unknowingly be self-centered and see the actions of others as ways to hurt them. Helping others redirects these thoughts and working for a greater cause takes the focus off of self.

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Volunteering not only allows for you to provide acts of kindness that are satisfying to your soul.  Volunteering is also a place for your mind to find rest.  Your mind is taken off of your pain and mundane daily routines.  You begin to think about how you can serve others.  These are noble, true and virtuous thoughts that give the mind Peace.  God created humanity to serve each other with the gifts and talents He carefully choose for each of His creations.  You may not know how to sing, act, dance or even cook but each person has the ability to help another person through volunteering their time and giving their love.  Use your suffering to live a life of purpose.

References

Reclaiming Children and Youth: The Journal of Strength-based Interventions, v14 n1 p16 Spr 2005

The book of Philippians (NKJ)

Tunnicliffe, H. (2009). Volunteering - better than daytime TV any day!. TCE: The Chemical Engineer, (819), 32. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

Resources

Helpguide.org (A great website filled with information about various mental and physical well-being articles)

Crisis Prevention Institute (An organization focused on crisis help and prevention)

Peace Corps (Volunteering in developing countries)

World Volunteer Web

Using Your Suffering to Live a Life of Purpose, Part 1

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Finding your purpose in life is an exhilarating feeling.  It gives you an unspeakable joy and an inner satisfaction because the reason God created you is able to find a functional outlet.  This joy comes not only from using your God given gifts and talents, but from the people around you who are directly affected by your work.  These people are changed in a positive way because you are being true to your inner self.  Some of you are living your dream and honoring the creative being God carefully placed inside of you.  However, the majority of people struggle with not knowing their purpose in life and aimlessly wander in life feeling devalued and useless.  The wandering people I'm speaking of are in your churches, homes, work places, grocery stores and doctor's offices.  They are your neighbors and school teachers, strangers you pass on the streets and possibly even you.  The circumstances of life can destroy your soul and the dreams you once had become only  vague memories.

 

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This heart breaking scene from The Color Purple is difficult to watch.  Celie and Nettie were sisters torn apart by an abusive husband.  Some of your stories are not this tragic, but others of you have experienced far worse.  The good news is there is hope the mend your shattered heart.  The brokenness of one's soul can be restored through acts of morality.  "This involves survivors restoring themselves by responding to others’ suffering, dedicating themselves to causes and improving the world; giving life meaning and leaving it a better place (Farley 2007)."  In other words, you can volunteer or start your own non-profit organization to help others suffering from the pain you once experienced.  Remember spiritual care is about finding and nurturing your meaning and purpose in life. 

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Becoming a part of a reputable organization or building your own community of helpers is a conduit for transforming your pain.  It gives you the ability to restore peace and joy in your life and help others in need.  Part one of this series was an introduction to the condition of broken souls.  Part two of this series will discuss the healing.  Until then let me leave you with a happy ending. Celie and Nettie are reunited after lives of abuse, rejection and heartache.

References

Farley, Y. (2007). Making the Connection: Spirituality, Trauma and Resiliency. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, 26(1), 1-15. doi:10.1300/J377v26n0101.

The Book of Philippians (NKJ)

Resources

International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA)

RAINN/ Rape, Abuse and Insect National Network