Do you care about making a difference?

This question has been ringing in my head for days now. The question of my career and plans for the future is up in the air often lately as I pivot and change plans and try new things. It’s an exciting time and I feel like I’m growing a lot and learning new things. But am I making a difference? Does any of what I’m doing matter if it isn’t making people’s live better?

How to Make A Difference

There are lots of ways to make a difference in the world. The first step is to define what making a difference means to you, since it’s a different concept to everyone. Then you find ways to actually do things that make a difference.

Below I’m looking at the different ways I’ve considered this idea of making a difference.

Making A Difference With Your Career

There are lots of careers that are fulfilling because they make a difference to other people.

From the medical field to being a teacher, there are lots of ways you can use your working hours to help other people. Maybe you work for a non-profit or you set aside a certain amount of hours for projects that matter.  Or maybe your whole profession is about making a difference and helping people.

I’ve personally struggled with this area because it feels like my career has not touched this area. The work I’ve done in the past hasn’t fulfilled me in this area. I sometimes look at my friends who are doctors and teachers and psychologists and wish I was making a more tangible difference like they are doing. However, my work blogging has been both a career and a way to make a difference. I know I’ve helped others through sharing my experiences with things like anxiety and overcoming setbacks.

If your career doesn’t directly make a difference to others, how can you focus on ways to do so?

Making A Difference With Volunteering

An obvious way to make a difference to other people is through volunteering. You can spend your time outside of work donating your time and skills to help people and organizations that need it.

There are many different ways to volunteer as well. You can volunteer your specific skills, like doing pro-bono law work for a non-profit. You can also volunteer your time, which can be used by most organizations to complete low-level tasks.

In my past I volunteered a lot but it slowed down as I added other responsibilities like more work and side hustles. I miss volunteering my time immensely. I still volunteer a few times a year at my church but would like to find ways to spend more time volunteering.

What ways can you volunteer your time and skills to help others?

Making A Difference In Other Ways

Obviously you can make  a difference in the world in other ways. Maybe it’s through a regular donation to a cause you care about. Maybe it’s through the way you raise your children and support them. Maybe it’s through a blog you started to help other people.

I like to think I make a difference with this blog. I recommend products and ideas that I’ve used to help me improve my life. Sharing those things with other people will help them do the same thing. When I receive emails about how I’ve helped one person, I like I am making a difference in a small way.

How do you make a difference?

Obviously it will vary from person to person and based on what you consider making a difference, but we should all strive to make a difference in the world and those around us with our actions.

How do you make a difference? How do you plan to make a difference in different areas of your life? Is it something you even think or care about?