I believe the title of this article contains a  profound meaning , in which it is pointed out that  service to others  is an  essential requirement  in life.

Perhaps this  quote from Mother Teresa of Calcutta  surprises us because we haven’t thought about it, or rather, quite the opposite, since we have assumed that  service to others  is one of the  main ingredients of our daily lives.

There are people like  Mother Teresa of Calcutta  who have made  service  the meaning of their lives, because they are convinced that  serving others  gives them life, enriches them, and fills them with peace and joy.

To serve  is to help without expecting anything in return; it is to make life easier and more pleasant for others; it is to forget oneself in order to care for others, (…) with the sole purpose of  contributing to the well-being of another person . It is not only about providing material assistance, but also about offering our  time , our  skills  , and, in many cases, affection and attention.

The benefit of  serving others is bidirectional, a  boomerang effect that helps both the giver and the receiver. Serving others gives profound meaning to our lives and fills us with  satisfaction . It activates the  reward system in our brain , releasing substances like  dopamine  and  endorphins , which make us feel good. Furthermore, simply focusing on the  needs of others  can help us overcome our own worries, reducing anxiety and promoting well-being. Service also reminds us that we all need each other at some point.

When asked, “How should we serve?”, my answer would undoubtedly be that  the essential ingredients  for serving others are affection  and  joy . These ingredients ensure that the help given is more personal and genuine, not perceived as an obligation, and that the person being helped feels more valued.  Serving others with affection and joy  predisposes us to see not only their material needs, but also to care for their  emotional , physical, and spiritual well-being.

Kindness   is the soul of service. Without  kindness , service loses the depth and humanity that truly makes it transformative. Kindness knows no borders or differences. When  we serve with kindness , the difference between us and the person we are helping disappears, because what truly matters is the  human connection  based on respect for others.

The important thing is that the service comes from the  heart , with  compassion  and a  willingness to improve someone’s life  by giving the best of ourselves. The specifics of the service depend on the context, but here are some practical and simple ways to put it into practice:

1. Listen attentively . Sometimes, what we need most is to be heard, and it’s a simple way to serve.  Listen to understand  what the other person truly needs before acting.
2. Offering our time . Time is a treasure, especially when we spend it helping others or simply keeping someone company who feels lonely.
3. Perform spontaneous acts of service . Not all help has to be planned;  small acts of service can be offered : giving way or offering a seat on the bus, sending a message, smiling, etc., spontaneously throughout the day.
4. Offer your skills or talents . We all have some talent that we can monetize by helping others.
5. Being an emotional support . Currently, providing emotional support to someone may be more necessary than any other type of help.
6. Participate in social projects , charities, or initiatives that seek to help those most in need.
7. Be respectful and show compassion . Sometimes, service is simply treating others with respect, dignity, and compassion, without judgment or assumptions. This requires being kind, patient, and offering genuine support, without expecting anything in return.

Another idea that I find fundamental is that serving others makes us freer and happier.  Service liberates  us  : from ego, from external expectations, from anxiety about the future, from dependency, from material attachments, (…). By putting others first, one feels freer and more committed to a goal that doesn’t depend solely on oneself. So, it can be said that serving  enriches us internally or spiritually , since one transcends one’s own limitations and becomes a source of light or support for others.

When we help others, we feel more  fulfilled and satisfied because we transcend our ego by focusing on the needs of others and the  positive impact  we are creating. We have all experienced that  happiness  is not achieved simply by accumulating things or constantly seeking personal gratification, but is often found in giving, helping, and being part of something larger than ourselves.

Helping others makes us more aware of what we have and generates a feeling of  gratitude . Gratitude, in turn, provides us with greater  well-being and happiness , as it helps us focus on the positive aspects of our lives instead of what we lack. For this reason, helpful people   have a  more optimistic  and positive  view of the world. Serving others  fills us with  joy . And it’s not just a fleeting joy, but a profound joy, as we realize that serving others brings out the best in us and motivates us to do all the good we can.

By  serving others  , we cultivate many  virtues —  empathy ,  generosity ,  humility ,  patience , commitment, and more—  that allow us to offer help not only effectively, but also in a genuine, respectful, and enriching way, both for those receiving the service and for those providing it. These virtues transform us as individuals, helping us to create a more just ,  kind  , and  compassionate world .

Serving others  shouldn’t be limited to performing a few simple acts; rather, we should  strive to cultivate a spirit of service , that is, to have internalized the desire to help others wholeheartedly and consistently, so as not to miss any opportunity to assist. I imagine it would be easy to acquire this  spirit of service  if we could wear a radar constantly on, detecting ways we can help others.  Serving others  is one of the most powerful actions we can take in our lives, not only because of the  positive impact  it has on others, but also because of the profound  personal benefit  it generates. The act of  serving  is not just an altruistic act, but a way to  grow ,  connect,  and  give meaning to our lives .

If we all committed to  living by serving more and better ,  we would transform the world , achieve the  peace  we all long for, and be  happier , because as  Mother Teresa of Calcutta said : “The fruit of love is service and the fruit of service is peace.”

Article published in El Confidencial Digital