What leads us to act in service to others?

What compels us to want to change our world, and to believe that we can?

Sometimes single moments can change our lives – a glimpse into someone else’s world that enables us to truly empathize and to want to help.

Often the initial spark can be the realization of our own power to make a difference.

We must believe that we can make a difference in order to feel compelled to act. Or that spark might be awakening to our won vulnerability, through tragedy or death.

While a single moment can be a catalyst, a lifetime of preparation helps create the framework for our service lives.   Whether they realize it or not, most people’s decisions to serve are influenced by people and events in their past.

I have seen many people inspired to serve as a tribute to the legacy of ancestors and mentors who have gone before them.  They want to repay service they have received or to emulate role models they have loved.

Many are prompted to act for the sake of their children and the generations ahead of them.  Others want to thank the world for the blessings of their lives.  And while many act from a place of privilege, it is perhaps most inspiring to hear from people who find a way to serve others when they themselves are suffering.

The opportunity to serve others is available to all – across income levels and geography and circumstance.

Often the first steps of our service journey are the beginning of our own personal transformation, opening us up to experiences beyond anything we ever imagined.

However we get started, in helping others, we move beyond ourselves and find ourselves renewed.

What is the story of the spark that ignited your service journey?